April 25--New White Sox catcher Kevan Smith, had no clothes for his unplanned trip to Chicago early Sunday morning from Toledo, Ohio.
Well, not many, anyway.
Smith, who hasn't played in a major-league game, lugged a borrowed suit and a mostly empty suitcase to U.S. Cellular Field for what likely will be a stay on borrowed time behind the plate for the White Sox. He was called him up from Triple-A Charlotte to take the roster spot of fellow catcher Alex Avila, whose bum right hamstring landed him on the 15-day disabled list.
But Smith said he'll be ready to suit up whenever the Sox need him.
"It's just kind of a dream becoming reality and I'm trying to soak everything in today and get my bearings," Smith said.
Smith found a friend, Knights teammate Travis Ishikawa, to lend him some formal threads for the last-minute departure.
Reliever Jake Petricka was the first to greet Smith in the clubhouse, where the two fist-bumped and Petricka whispered congrats.
"I had to shut my phone off (around 1 a.m.) because I had to get up at 4:45 for a flight to get here, but (it was) all worth it," Smith said. "No big deal. I'll catch up on sleep when we get to Toronto."
The former University of Pittsburgh quarterback was hitting .345 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs and threw out five of the 11 who attempted to steal a base against him in eight games with Charlotte this season.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder was drafted by the Sox in 2011 and is a career .290 hitter with 49 home runs, 294 RBIs and an .821 OPS in 476 minor-league games.
"It's a nice opportunity," manager Robin Ventura said. "He won't get as much playing time as (Dioner Navarro), but he's going to be playing."
Avila left Saturday's game after pulling up lame at second base in the sixth inning. He was batting .214 in 10 games.
Rotation shuffle: Ventura said Chris Sale will start Tuesday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, a day later than he was scheduled. Ventura was evasive when asked who would start Monday but said John Danks (0-3, 6.23 ERA) the team's fifth starter, is healthy.
Miguel Gonzalez, who is 7-3 with a 1.01 WHIP and a 2.61 ERA in his career against the Blue Jays, will start Monday after being called up after Sunday's game. Pitcher Erik Johnson was optioned to Charlotte to make room for him.
