GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Tuesday’s intrasquad provided a nice dose of positive reinforcement for Avisail Garcia moving forward.
The White Sox outfielder blasted a two-run home run to right in his team’s second intrasquad meeting in two days.
The White Sox open their exhibition season on Thursday. The hope is that Garcia gets comfortable with an altered stance over the next month so he doesn’t revert back to his old ways.
“For him to start off like that is good to see,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
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A good season from Garcia could do wonders for a White Sox offense that struggled to produce in 2015. Ventura said he can see a slight difference in Garcia’s stance.
“The mechanics of it are a little different,” Ventura said. “You can see him sitting down a little. I think his bat is a little flatter as far as starting going through the zone, which is going to help him. It’s going to help him maintain that barrel through the zone a little longer. Whether he hits it as much he’s going to be able to foul stuff off, stay alive a little more and give himself more chances.”
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Garcia worked out for three days in January with hitting coach Todd Steverson and first baseman Jose Abreu in Miami. He’s felt good about the changes they put in place ever since.
“I have confidence in what I'm doing so it's very important,” Garcia said. “Just have to keep working, trying to repeat every at-bat, trying to be consistent. That's what I'm looking for.”