3 things we learned from Chicago White Sox spring training Monday, including Leury Garcia preparing to play almost any position and Garrett Crochet looking ‘as impressive as ever’

Luis Robert had an RBI double for the Chicago White Sox on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The five-inning game ended in a 4-4 tie.

Robert’s double to left occurred during a four-run fourth inning. Micker Adolfo had an RBI single, while Matt Reynolds and Adam Eaton hit sacrifice flies.

Eaton had an active day. He was hit by a pitch in the first and singled in the third.

Albert Pujols singled twice and drove in two for the Angels.

Here are three takeaways from Sox camp.

1. Leury Garcia is preparing for any challenge.

Garcia listed the positions where he’s spending time this spring.

“Third base, short, second,” he said during a phone interview Sunday.

He then paused.

“Not first base, yet,” he said with a laugh. “Outfield as well. Everywhere.”

Garcia’s versatility has come in handy in the past. And that will be the case again this season in a utility role for the Sox.

He played second base Monday and had a hit and a walk in two plate appearances.

“(He’s) one of those guys it would be unfair to not call him a regular, he just is a regular at different positions,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Keep him healthy, a lot of ways he can help you win a game.”

Health cost Garcia most of the 2020 season.

He had a nice start but was limited to 16 regular-season games by a torn ligament in his left thumb. He suffered the injury Aug. 10, sliding headfirst into first base to beat a play. He didn’t return until the American League wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics.

Garcia slashed .271/.317/.441 with eight RBIs in the 16 games. He played in two of the three playoff games and went hitless in six at-bats.

“I tried to get as ready as I could to help the team in the playoffs,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “You definitely felt the atmosphere there. It’s going to help me going forward.”

Garcia played second base, shortstop and right field in the 2020 regular season and started in left field in the first two games of the playoffs.

“It’s not easy, but I’m used to it,” Garcia said of the various roles. “I’ve been doing this for the last couple of years. I take ground balls every day at different positions, take fly balls. I try to do the same at every position. Every ground ball I take, every fly ball, I know I’m going to be in the game. I don’t know when, but I’ve just got to be ready.”

Garcia joined the Sox in 2013 as the player to be named later in a trade with the Texas Rangers. He’s excited for what’s next after the team’s 2020 accomplishments.

“We’ve definitely turned a corner with what we did last year,” he said through an interpreter. “It was a good sign. Now we’re in a better position to succeed. We are a better team now, and that’s going to motivate us more.”

2. Michael Kopech keeps improving, and Garrett Crochet is ‘as impressive as ever.’

Kopech and Crochet were among the pitchers throwing live batting practice Sunday. La Russa had positive updates on both.

“Michael is improving every time out there. We’re going to go at the right pace to account for getting back on the mound after being away so long,” La Russa said Monday. “Crochet is in real good shape. He’s had good work here in January when he was rehabbing. Every time I see him, sharper and as impressive as ever.”

Both are anticipated to be used out of the bullpen early in the season.

Monday’s live batting practice featured starters Carlos Rodon and Reynaldo Lopez and relievers Codi Heuer, Evan Marshall, Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer.

3. Jose Abreu is getting closer to his first Cactus League game.

La Russa said there’s a possibility Abreu will play Tuesday against the Rangers. The reigning AL MVP joined the Sox at camp Saturday. He was delayed after testing positive for COVID-19.

Abreu took batting practice Monday against Bummer.

“The few swings he took, I walked away quickly (because) Bummer is throwing, nobody is going to look good,” La Russa said. “If all goes well, he said before (Monday’s) practice started, and (head athletic trainer) James (Kruk) agreed, he might be in the lineup (Tuesday).”

Catcher Yasmani Grandal (right knee inflammation) continues to trend in the right direction.

“If the opening day was (in) two weeks, maybe you think about pushing him a little,” La Russa said, “but it’s not two weeks from now, so we should really get it at a pace to where he’s really 100% when he comes back. He makes progress every day.”