ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If Adam Eaton’s play late in Saturday’s loss is any indicator, the center fielder’s pregame frustration isn’t going to be an issue.
Hours after he and White Sox coaches Mark Parent and Daryl Boston had a spirited, 10-minute, closed-door meeting about Eaton’s absence from the starting lineup, the center fielder made an impact in a 5-4 White Sox loss. Eaton drew a pinch-hit walk to start a two-run, eighth-inning rally and singled in the ninth.
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Just as he suggested before the game, Parent said he had no problems with Eaton being upset about not playing.
“Our discussion continued and we had a great discussion,” Parent said. “We had a really good talk about what he’s trying to do, what we’re trying to do as a team. He’s on board. I let him know, we think the world of him. He’s not playing for whatever reason. He’s on board and he’s going to be here for the next three, four five years and do well.
“He came in and had a great at-bat, played good defense.”
Eaton declined to comment on the subject, deferring to Parent. He insisted he was happy to contribute and only dissatisfied with a tough loss.
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“He can speak on that,” Eaton said. “I’m not going to. I sat for a few innings and then got out there and had two good at-bats. We gave them a little run at the end but it was a tough loss for us today. Samardzija pitched a heck of a game. It would have been nice to get the win for him, but it wasn’t in the cards. We are looking forward to tomorrow. Another good starter we have out there.
“Like I said, I can’t really speak too much on it. I just work here.”