Nick Madrigal’s confidence is back.
“I feel as ready as ever right now,” he said.
It looks like his game is, too.
After a lackluster performance during spring training in February and March, the White Sox’ anointed second baseman of the future has done more to distinguish himself during summer camp, playing like the alert middle infielder with exceptional contact rates at the plate the Sox thought they were getting when they drafted him fourth overall in 2018.
While lacking power in an age when almost everyone is knocking the ball over the wall, Madrigal has been slapping mostly singles in Sox intrasquad games, although he ripped a double down the left-field line against right-hander Lucas Giolito Saturday. The 5-8, 175-pounder makes enough contact, fields well enough and does enough things on the “heads up” ledger to earn his keep.
To wit: Madrigal has been seen in intrasquad games punching one through the right side on a hit-and-run play, then successfully tagging up from first on a fly ball to strong-armed center fielder Luis Robert. He threw out Yermin Mercedes at home on a ground ball, playing at medium depth, with a perfect throw. All excellent decisions.
“I feel like no matter what team I’ve ever been on throughout my life, I feel like I’ve tried to be one of the leaders and tried to really understand every part of the game, no matter just my position, but the other guys around me,” Madrigal said.
“I feel like I’ve studied and studied baseball throughout my life, and I understand when the game’s speeding up on some people. If it’s the pitchers that need someone to go and just relax them or talk to them, I feel comfortable going out there. No matter if it’s at the major league level here or in college, I’ve always been that guy to go out there and kind of slow things down. There’s so much to baseball, a lot more than fans think, more than ‘See the ball, hit the ball, throw the ball.’ It’s so much of the mental game that people don’t realize. That’s something I’ve learned over the years. I think it’s just a combination of things to understand what goes on in players’ heads and what’s going to happen.”
Madrigal’s spring might have something to do with things going on in his own head.
“This time around I’m more relaxed and just enjoying the ride more,” he said.
With service time issues at play, it might behoove the Sox to hold Madrigal back a week or so into the season before bringing him up. Fair or not, it’s the nature of the business of baseball, and Leury Garcia is the favorite to open the season at second base Friday.
“I really do want to be a part of this team from the start,” Madrigal said. “I feel like I deserve it. But it’s in the hands of the bosses and the coaches and whatever works for them. I’ve never wanted something so much in my life just to be a part of this team right now and I feel like I can help this team win on the field.”
“It should come out in the next couple of days,” Madrigal said. “I’m excited to see what they say.”
“We’re going to look at everything with these guys,” Renteria said. “They have shown us with their experience and ability the things they need to do to fill that spot at second base. Certainly all of them are in the mix. The question is, will this simply help or hurt or hinder.”
