ANAHEIM, Calif. — Leury Garcia was in left field and Zack Collins at designated hitter on Thursday.
Andrew Vaughn will have to wait.
Probably until Friday night in the second game of the season.
But for openers, new White Sox manager Tony La Russa selected Garcia, the faster, more experienced — by a landslide — over Vaughn to start in left on Opening Day Thursday. The Sox play the Angels at 9:05 p.m. CST (NBCSCH, ESPN-1000) will Lucas Giolito starting against Dylan Bundy.
Here’s the lineup:
Tim Anderson SS
Adam Eaton RF
Jose Abreu 1B
Yoan Moncada 3B
Yasmani Grandal C
Leury Garcia LF
Luis Robert CF
Zack Collins C
Nick Madrigal 2B
La Russa on Wednesday said Garcia would probably play left field after Vaughn played three of the last four Cactus League games in left, a position he has not played. Vaughn, a right-handed hitter, will likely start at DH Friday against Angels lefty Andrew Heaney.
La Russa said he plans to get his bench players enough at-bats to keep them fresh. Collins, who did not play in the Cactus League finale Tuesday, would have been off three consecutive days if sat out tonight. Collins, who made the team as a backup catcher, had a good spring offensively.
Vaughn, meanwhile, will wear jersey No. 25 after he wore 81 this spring. Billy Hamilton, the speedy veteran outfielder signed during spring training, made the team and will will wear 0.
