GLENDALE, Ariz. — Eloy Jimenez feels close to becoming a major leaguer.
“Really close,” he said.
As well he should, his spring training .154 batting average notwithstanding.
The White Sox’ top prospect, Jimenez, 22, was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte Wednesday and will finish spring training in minor league camp, where he’ll get at-bats on a daily basis.
“They just told me to keep playing hard, keep doing what you are doing, we like it,” Jimenez said Saturday.
Jimenez played left field adequately and went 4-for-26 with two doubles, a home run, nine strikeouts and no walks in nine Cactus League games. He said his timing was off, something he hadn’t experienced.
Perhaps wanting to prove he deserved to be called up last season but wasn’t because of service time issues — the Sox get an extra year of contract control by waiting till late April — Jimenez put pressure on himself to perform.
“A little bit,” he said. “I tried to do too much. I think that’s why I didn’t have good results. … I’m going to try to control that.”
By not tearing it up this spring as Kris Bryant did with the Cubs in 2015 but was sent down anyway for service-time reasons, the Sox probably will take less heat for sending Jimenez out than they otherwise would have.
“I was trying to compete for the regular team but I know that [remains] a possibility,” Jimenez said. “I’m going to work hard, and when they give me the chance I am going to be the best player I can be.”
Jimenez combined to hit .337/.384/.577 with 22 homers, 28 doubles, three triples and 75 RBI over 108 games between AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte last season.
Santana set for first start
Ervin Santana will make his first start in a Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks Wednesday.
Santana’s velocity was at 91-92 during his B game outing against the Padres and Manny Machado Friday, and the veteran righty, who allowed one run over five innings, was pleased with the way he located pitches and said the middle finger that caused him to miss most of last season is pain-free.
“Coop [pitching coach Don Cooper] says he has a little more in that tank,” manager Renteria said. “He’s a veteran who knows what he’s doing.”
Santana had enough to retire Machado, who batted every inning Santana pitched, all five times. Santana did not strike him out but broke a bat on a ground ball out.
“It was fun,” Santana said. “I was like, ‘Dude, every time, every inning I have to face you?’ ”
Renteria downplays Jones’ struggle
Renteria shrugged off Nate Jones’ outing against the Cubs Friday in which he failed to retire all four batters faced and allowed a home run to Wynton Bernard.
“That was a little oddity for us,” Renteria said. “The biggest concern is that he’s healthy, which he is. Yesterday was an oddball game.”
Career-wise, yes, but not so much this spring for the 33-year-old Jones (12.46 ERA), who has allowed six runs on nine hits (three homers) and two walks with six strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.
Jones, whose $4.65 million option was picked up over the offseason, is slated to pitch again Sunday.
This and that
Renteria said he will announce his Opening Day starter Monday and also give an idea of how the rotation will line up. Left-hander Carlos Rodon, who starts against the Diamondbacks Sunday, is the favorite to start his first opener.
*Nicky Delmonico (concussion) could return as the designated hitter Monday, Renteria said.
