3 things we learned from the Chicago White Sox spring training opener, including Jake Burger’s ‘milestone’ and Tony La Russa’s return to the dugout
Adam Engel hit a two-run home run in the first inning, but the Chicago White Sox opened Cactus League play with a 7-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in a six-inning game Sunday at Camelback Ranch.
Tim Anderson went 1-for-3 with a single to right. Yoan Moncada, serving as the designated hitter, went 0-for-3. He reached on a fielder’s choice in the first, stole second and scored on Engel’s blast. Andrew Vaughn batted cleanup and went 0-for-1 with two walks.
Here are three takeaways from camp.
1. Jake Burger reached another milestone in his comeback.
Burger talked hitting — and his picture on the scoreboard — with Anderson on Sunday.
“The first thing I said to him after my first at-bat, I looked up at the scoreboard and I was like, ‘I need to get that picture changed,’ ” Burger said with a laugh during a conference call. “I’m 40 pounds down from that picture. I really want a new picture.”
The third baseman, the No. 11 pick in the 2017 draft, was thrilled to be on the field after battling various injuries.
“This is just another milestone in the comeback,” Burger said. “It feels great to be out there with the guys and playing baseball again.”
Burger missed all of 2018 because of a ruptured left Achilles tendon suffered in spring training, then missed all of 2019 because of a bruised left heel. He spent some time in 2020 playing in a local league in Missouri before joining the alternate site in Schaumburg.
He said Sunday “was one of those things where it kind of told me that I belonged. Those injuries are well behind me, and I’m back to playing baseball and belong there.”
Manager Tony La Russa said Burger has “looked good to me” during camp.
“In the infield drills he’s really been agile and he’s shown a very strong, accurate arm,” La Russa said. “And he’s had good at-bats. He’s healthy, you can tell he’s determined and he’s really pleased. I don’t know that he ever took for granted the game of baseball, but he certainly is excited, happy to be playing and he hasn’t had a bad day yet.”
Burger, 24, said his goals in camp are to “have fun and play baseball.”
“I missed three years of that, so it’s one of those things where I’m just happy to be here,” Burger said. “And learning from Tony is unbelievable — growing up in St. Louis, getting to watch him manage the Cardinals, incredible. Trying to take in as much information as I can and have fun with the guys again. Take good at-bats. It’s as simple as that.”
Burger went 0-for-3 Sunday, flying out to right and center and striking out.
“My timing felt great,” he said. “I just missed my first at-bat and flew out to right field foul. I just missed that second at-bat too. The third at-bat was one of those instances, first game back, juices are flowing, last inning, so kind of got outside of myself a little bit and outside of my approach.
“My timing felt great all day.”
2. Tony La Russa had a ‘familiar’ feeling in his return to the dugout.
La Russa last managed in 2011, when he guided the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title. The stakes were considerably lower Sunday, but even in a Cactus League game, La Russa said, “you’ve got to practice winning.”
“You get 30 chances, so you don’t want to wait until opening day,” La Russa said. “Whether the team or a manager, you’re supposed to be using those games to anticipate and make decisions. That’s why I like it, in the sense that when I get to opening day or October, there really isn’t any difference in the concentration and the process.”
La Russa liked how the team responded after falling behind 3-0 in the first. Engel got the Sox back in the game momentarily with his two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
There was more familiarity with the return of fans in the stands. The crowd was announced as a sellout of 2,347.
“It’s awesome hearing ‘Glad you’re back’ and saying ‘What’s up?’ to me,” Burger said.
The Sox were without catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is recovering from right knee inflammation. They said Grandal ramped up his hitting and throwing Sunday during workouts and is expected back “soon.”
3. Kade McClure made the most of an opportunity.
Sox pitchers surrendered four home runs, but McClure pitched a solid third inning, striking out one and allowing one walk in a scoreless frame.
The Sox selected McClure, 25, in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. He’s 8-7 with a 3.05 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 40 minor-league appearances (30 starts). The right-hander is a non-roster invitee to camp.
“I felt great,” McClure said. “Just wanted to go out there and execute my pitches. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten to pitch in a competitive game. Wasn’t trying to overthink it, make it more than it is.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be here. Not having a season last year, just having a small opportunity at instructs, just to get out here and show what I worked on and show the strides that I’ve made. Apparently that was enough for them to give me that opportunity, so I’m very grateful for it.”
In non-game action, Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Garrett Crochet and Jonathan Stiever threw live batting practice in Sunday’s workout while Lucas Giolito had a side session. Giolito is slated to pitch Tuesday against the Texas Rangers at Camelback Ranch.
