Yoan Moncada ‘thrilled' to reunite with Jose Abreu on White Sox

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Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu are back together.

The two Cuban natives were teammates in 2012 when they played for Cienfuegos in Cuba, and now they'll be in the same dugout once again — this time in Chicago.

"To get the opportunity to play with him right now in the United States, it's an honor for me," Moncada said through a translator on a conference call Wednesday. "I'm thrilled with that."

Moncada said Abreu sent him a congratulatory text following the blockbuster trade, welcoming him to Chicago.

"He welcomed me to the White Sox organization," Moncada said. "We were talking a little bit about this opportunity for both of us to play again."

As the White Sox enter full rebuild mode, no player is considered untouchable. But the White Sox may decide to hang on to Abreu, who could serve as a mentor for Moncada.

It also helps that the White Sox have a Latino manager in Rick Renteria, making it easier to communicate.

"I think it is very good for me and for everybody," Moncada said. "I can reconnect with Abreu again and he's a person who is going to give me some advice. He will be like a tutor for me.

"To have a Latino manager is something I think will be very good, too, because we can communicate in the same language. I feel good that I'm going to play with Abreu and have a Latino manager. But that doesn't change anything for me. My biggest thing is to play and be the best player I can be."

Moncada got his first taste of big league action at the end of the 2016 season. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 3 to help the Boston Red Sox with their playoff push.

Despite only playing in eight major-league games — going 4-for-19 with an RBI and three runs — Moncada understands what it takes to play in The Show.

"I learned that you have to be open to making adjustments because this is the best baseball in the world and you're going to face the best of the best," Moncada said. "You have to be open to get some advice and to apply it. That was the most important thing that I learned in my time in the majors."

[SHOP: Gear up, White Sox fans!]

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that the 21-year-old will begin his White Sox tenure in the minors at second base.

But Moncada, who has experience at third base and outfield, said he's willing to play any position the team needs him to.

"Everybody knows that I played at second with Boston and third base, too," Moncada said. "But like I said, any position the team needs to play I am willing to play that position, of course. I have to practice and feel comfortable at that position first. My priority is to help the team."

The future is looking quite bright for the White Sox. And after Wednesday's trade, it looks even brighter.

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