GLENDALE, Ariz. — Grady Sizemore never envisioned becoming a coach. The three-time All-Star was so focused on his performance on the field that he never let his mind drift into other possibilities.
Sizemore coached as an intern with the Diamondbacks last season before being hired as a major-league coach by the White Sox this offseason.
During his big-league career, Sizemore experienced the joys that come with being a star and the pain that comes with dealing with injuries.
“Just his work ethic,” first baseman Andrew Vaughn said of what he has learned from Sizemore. “He talks about how he went about his business and how he worked out. He was able to play for so long, so I’m trying to take any little bit I can.”
During his three All-Star seasons from 2006 to 2008, the fewest games Sizemore played in were 157. Sox hitters admire that availability.
“You’d honestly be dumb if you didn’t take anything from him,” catcher Korey Lee said. “I think it’s gonna pay a lot of dividends in what we’re going to do this year. He’s been a big part.”
Sizemore had to retire from baseball at 32. He had microfracture surgery on both knees, two hernia surgeries and back surgery during his 10-year career.
After retiring, Sizemore lived in Arizona before being hired by Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield, who was with the D-backs at the time. He worked with baserunners and hitters. With the Sox, Sizemore is working with the hitters and outfielders and “just trying to help out as much as I can.”
Sizemore has enjoyed being with a new organization and connecting with the players.
“It’s been fun,” Sizemore said. “It’s a great opportunity with this new organization, a new spot. I’m learning the guys and what makes them tick and trying to push them.”
His expertise is in the outfield, but Sizemore said he enjoys just talking baseball with players.
“He’s always around and a really good guy to have on the team because he’s been in the game for so long,” Lee said. “We can just pick his brain, and it’s another guy to get some tools from. As a catcher, we don’t really talk about baserunning, but I love doing that and talking to him about stealing bags.”
Despite playing for an opponent (Cleveland) in the American League Central for years, Sizemore said being a Sox coach feels familiar because the schedules and routines are similar. Sizemore has used spring training to build trust with the players. He uses his playing experience to understand what a player might be thinking in a given situation.
“I know what they’re going through,” Sizemore said. “I don’t think there’s any position I haven’t been in or any situation I haven’t gone through. That helps, and then it’s just trying to find the right spots to pick the time to interject here or there. That’s the tricky part, but the guys have been great.”
Sizemore said the laid-back environment has made it easy for him to transition to being a major-league coach. The playing style Sox manager Pedro Grifol is trying to implement meshes with his personality as a player.
“It’s a real comfortable, loose environment, but we’re definitely trying to push these guys,” Sizemore said. “Pedro’s been wanting to play fast and play hard, so that’s easy for me to buy into and relay the message to the guys.”
