White Sox’ Leury Garcia will try to avoid headfirst slides

TEMPE, Ariz. — The White Sox need Leury Garcia to stay healthy, and refraining from headfirst slides into first base might be a way to go about that. But Garcia says it isn’t as easy as you might think.

Often instincts take over, and they might not always be in a player’s best interests.

“That’s something you can control, that I try to control, but sometimes, in the heat of the moment, you just react,” Garcia said Monday. “It’s difficult.”

Garcia slid headfirst into first base against the Tigers last August, tore a ligament in his left thumb and missed the last six weeks of the regular season. In 2017, he sprained the index finger on his left hand when sliding headfirst into second in Cleveland.

“But it’s definitely something that I’ve been working on,” Garcia said. “I’m not planning to do it. But we’ll see. I’m going to try to not react that way. I know you can control it, but it’s not always easy.”

A switch hitter, Garcia has value as a multi-dimensional infielder and outfielder with speed and some power. Manager Tony La Russa said Garcia “stood out with his quickness, arm strength and stroke from both sides” when he was working in the Diamondbacks’ front office.

“Keep him healthy; he can help you win a game in a lot of ways,” La Russa said.

Garcia, who turns 30 this month, is the longest-tenured Sox player.

Careful with Grandal

Catcher Yasmani Grandal (inflammation in right knee) began ramping up activity Sunday after missing three days but won’t be pushed hard, La Russa said, because it’s early.

“Yasmani is definitely making progress every day,” La Russa said.

“If Opening Day [April 1] was in two weeks, maybe you would think about pushing him a little, but it’s not two weeks from now, so we should really get it at a pace to where he’s really 100% when he comes back and makes progress every day.”

The Sox, La Russa said, are in good health a couple of weeks into camp.

“[Trainer] James [Kruk] gives us a report at the end of the day and the first of the day, and overall — a little hammy here — guys are in good shape,” he said.

Abreu might play Tuesday

Jose Abreu joined the team Saturday after a positive coronavirus test (he was asymptomatic) delayed his arrival, and he might play Tuesday against the Rangers, La Russa said.

Kopech and Crochet

La Russa on right-hander Michael Kopech and left-hander Garrett Crochet:

“Michael is improving every time out there. We’re going to go at the right pace to account for him getting back on the mound after being away so long. Crochet is in real good shape. He’s had good work here in January when he was rehabbing. Every time I see him, sharper and as impressive as ever.”