March 10--Austin Jackson missed the first two weeks of spring training while he waited to close a free-agent deal, which finally happened Sunday with the White Sox. But the 29-year-old outfielder tried to stay prepared while in limbo.
"I just tried to do the same things I would do any offseason, keeping myself ready by working out, hitting and throwing," Jackson said. "It was pretty much the same offseason routine."
Jackson arrived to Camelback Ranch to begin his one-year, $5 million deal on Monday, and he saw live pitching for the first time Wednesday. He said Thursday that after a couple more live batting practices he hopes he will be "pretty close" to ready to play his first spring game with the Sox. As he gets used to seeing live pitching again, he said he also has been working through some soreness.
"That's nothing new," Jackson said. "Once you get out there and put those spikes on and get on the grass and get moving around, you go through those couple days with sore legs."
Getting used to the Sox clubhouse, however, has been "pretty easy," especially since he joined a team with several familiar faces from his time with the Tigers.
"I've played with some of these guys and I've played against some of the guys for a while, so it wasn't that hard," Jackson said. "It's a pretty easy transition. You have a good mix of guys with some experience and some young guys. I think I fit really well in this group."
