The moments before Friday night’s opener were emotional for White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.
“I tried not to shed too many tears because we are going through something where the world needs to change,” Anderson said Saturday. “But you know it speaks a lot of the guys that were right there in my corner. I am the only Black guy so it was only right that I had to show my love, I had to support.”
In support of Black Lives Matter, Anderson, Jose Abreu, Edwin Encarnacion, Lucas Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert and coaches Joe McEwing and Daryl Boston took a knee during the National Anthem, while manager Rick Renteria and Yoan Moncada put a hand on Anderson’s shoulders. Renteria and reliever Jace Fry went to one knee before the anthem.
Anderson appreciated the support, and said Abreu approached him pregame and told him he was in Anderson’s corner.
“For them to be right there beside me, it speaks a lot of them,” Anderson said. “We are all brothers and we all love each other and I think it showed. They supported me through it all.”
Anderson, who praised the league’s response to the moment, said he will not continue to kneel.
“I feel like (Friday) was definitely big enough to actually spread the love that is needed,” Anderson said.
Goodbye, Fulmer
Designated for assignment Thursday, Carson Fulmer was claimed Saturday by the Tigers, ending one of the most disappointing Sox tenures for a top pick in team history. The Sox had hoped Fulmer would make it through waivers and remain in the organization, but that was not the case.
“It’s unfortunate obviously because as you guys know, Carson is a tremendous kid, an extremely hard worker,” general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday. “He’s filled, or attempted to fill, a variety of different roles for us over the years with varying degrees of success.”
Taken eighth overall in 2015, Fulmer pitched 51 games for the Sox, going 6-9 with a 6.56 ERA.
A Grandal day off
Yasmani Grandal did not start. Renteria said he wanted to get James McCann into the lineup, and recognized that Saturday was a good chance to get Grandal a breather.
The decision, Renteria said, gives him an opportunity to now use Grandal on many consecutive days as the season ramps up. Thursday’s off-day will also help.
“I know he wants to be in there,” Renteria said. “I want to keep him fresh, but the opportunity for me to just give him (a rest) after we’ve just come off of this grind of the preparation to get everybody ready, today’s a perfect opportunity.”
Heuer’s debut
Codi Heuer made his big-league debut Friday night by throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Heuer said that, in normal circumstances, his family and friends would’ve been at his debut. Some people, Heuer said, even asked if they could get into Guaranteed Rate Field but were obviously rebuffed.
Still, Heuer shared moments with those closest to him, including an emotional voicemail from his dad.
“He said, ‘That was awesome to watch you play. It’s such a long road to get here and a lot of hard work. You deserve it,’” Heuer said “It means a lot, especially coming from my old man. I wouldn’t be here without him, like I said. So that was nice.”
