KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Micah Johnson could be back with the White Sox by Tuesday, which means Robin Ventura must find playing time for three rookie infielders.
But the White Sox manager intends to get Johnson, Tyler Saladino and Carlos Sanchez all on the field a fair amount over the season’s final month.
Since he was sent back to Triple-A Charlotte in mid-May, Johnson has hit .311/.370/.466 with 27 extra-base hits, including eight homers, and 27 stolen bases in 34 tries. The Knights’ season ends Monday.
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“We are going to find ways to get guys in there and rotate them around and see guys at different spots,” Ventura said. “There might be a spot for Carlos to play some third base and move him around and see how that goes, but for the most part it’s probably just going to be Carlos and Micah at second.”
The White Sox didn’t have any issues with how Johnson hit when he began the season in the majors as he had a .270/.333/.297 slash line in 83 plate appearances. But the club wanted Johnson to focus on his defense at second base in the minors and reports have been positive. Ventura wonders if the extra seasoning Johnson received willshow in his second stint.
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“You just let him play and you are going to see with your own eyes of what it is, how it plays up here,” Ventura said. “I think that’s all you can do is just let him go out there and play."
“I think that’s part of some of the times we get guys and they might be a year too early or a little bit early. They might be ahead in some other areas. I know offensively he was ahead. You catch back up with this and we are going to see what it is.”