KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The days of Zack Collins’ first major league tour are numbered with catcher Welington Castillo close to returning from a minor-league rehab assignment.
Collins, the No. 10 overall pick as a catcher in the 2016 draft, could have made things tougher on Sox decision-makers had he produced at the plate, but he was 2-for-27 with a home run, 14 strikeouts and five walks since his call-up from Class AAA Charlotte, where he could return as soon as this weekend.
“I guarantee you he will walk away from this experience understanding the differences and the depth between Triple-A and the major leagues,” manager Rick Renteria said Monday.
Collins’ defense behind the plate has been undistinguished at all pro levels, and the Sox are adding first base in hopes of adding versatility. He has taken ground balls with coach Joe McEwing daily and is all ears, Renteria said, in hitting and catching discussions with coaches.
“It’s been a great experience for him,” Renteria said. “There will be nothing lost in the opportunity he’s gotten under the circumstances that got him here in the first place.”
The acquisition of left-handed hitting AJ Reed, coupled with Collins’ struggle at the plate, hindered Collins’ chances to get reps as a DH.
“He knows he’s going to make some adjustments,” Renteria said. “He knows … in time we’ll continue to give him opportunities to do what he’s doing. He’s taking them in with an open mind and he’s been very honest with himself and the coaching staff.”
McCann’s long ball theory
The baseball may very well be juiced in 2019, but Sox catcher James McCann isn’t ready to equate the record-setting home run pace entirely on the ball.
“It’s a different game,” McCann said. “Ten, 15 years ago 90 percent of pitchers were throwing sinkers. It’s harder to hit a homer on a ball that’s intended to be hit on the top half, on the ground. Now every pitcher is throwing four-seamers up in the zone. When a hitter catches a four-seam in the top of the zone properly, it’s already back-spinning and it’s going to go a little better.’’
McCann also said pitchers are not as committed to command as they used to be.
“Nowadays it’s about velocity,” he said. “More guys [pitchers] have the rip-it and grip-it mentality, and when that happens there are mistakes and when you make mistakes to big league hitters they take advantage. Whether the ball is juiced or not, it’s easier when a ball is elevated out over the plate to get extended than it is when a guy is throwing heavy two-seamers down in the zone.
”There very well may be something different about the ball but I know for a fact guys are pitching different than they used to.”
Opportunity knocking for Reed
Reed on his opportunity with the Sox after being stuck in the Astros’ minor league system: “The cliche is you’re playing for 29 other teams. And it’s true. You never know when the DFA is going to happen, or whatever it is. You just have to keep playing hard no matter where you’re at and keep producing and showing other teams that you can still play. The White Sox are taking a chance and I’m grateful.”
