Between re-signing first baseman Paul Konerko to a three-year, $37.5 million deal and seemingly clearing the way for rookie Brent Morel to take over as the everyday third baseman the White Sox pushed prospect Dayan Viciedo out of the infield picture, but now Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that they’re giving him a look in the outfield.
Viciedo played right field yesterday and made a pair of nice plays, drawing praise from manager Ozzie Guillen. Viciedo has played exclusively first base and third base since signing with the White Sox for $10 million in 2008, but Gonzales notes that he saw some outfield action in Cuba before defecting.
Viciedo is listed at 5-foot-11 and 240 pounds, and many people were skeptical about his ability to show the range needed at third base, so counting on him to track down fly balls in an outfield corner is hardly a guarantee. Still, if he can be a passable defender while developing some much-needed plate discipline offensively the White Sox could step up their efforts to trade Carlos Quentin knowing they have the 22-year-old Viciedo waiting in the wings.