Sept. 06--Mike Olt stayed with Triple-A Iowa for five days after the Cubs designated him for assignment, working out so he could be ready for whatever the next step in his career might be.
That next step was starting at third base for the White Sox on Sunday against the Royals.
Olt jumped on a plane to Kansas City about four hours after learning the Sox claimed him off waivers from the Cubs on Saturday, and manager Robin Ventura felt he had stayed prepared enough to make his Sox debut immediately.
"I wanted to at least kind of get some workouts in and do as much as I can to stay a little bit on track," Olt said. "It was good they let me stay there and get some workouts in, which helped.
"I've had kind of a crazy career and the one thing about it, everything happens for a reason. I'm excited to get another opportunity here."
Olt, 27, will play in his first major-league game since April 14, after which he went on the disabled list with a right wrist fracture while the Cubs called up Kris Bryant. He said he hasn't had any problems with his wrist over the last month and is "definitely" hopeful he'll find a new fit with the Sox, who have had three different starting third basemen this year, none of which are power hitters.
"He says he's ready to go, so we're going to find out and put him out there," Ventura said. "It brings an extra dimension to our lineup. Lately, we've been hitting some homers. I don't know if they knew he was coming, but we'll see if he can add to it."
Olt last played in a minor-league game in an Iowa double-header on Aug. 29, when he finished the day 4-for-9 with a homer, two runs scored and two RBIs. He hit .273 with nine homers and 25 RBIs in 62 minor-league games this season.
He has played in 95 career games with the Cubs, and said it's simultaneously "strange" and "a good thing" to be moving to the other Chicago team.
"I think my apartment is closer to the White Sox stadium than it is to Wrigley, so it actually works out well," Olt said. "A little bit less stress to kind of get things going, and I'll be in a familiar spot."
