Willy likely to step in for Melky
CLEVELAND — Outfielder Willy Garcia has turned heads at Class AAA Charlotte, and as luck would have it, he’s expected to show what he can do with the White Sox this weekend.
With left fielder Melky Cabrera going on paternity leave for the weekend series in Minnesota, Garcia could make his majorleague debut as a temporary replacement.
Obtained on waivers from the Pirates in January, Garcia, 24, appears to be fixing the plate-discipline issues that stalled his ascent to the majors.
The Sox haven’t announced it, but all indications point to him joining the team Friday for three games.
“Things are definitely trending in the right direction for him,’’ said Sox director of player development Chris Getz, who was in Charlotte to watch the Knights kick off their season last week. “He’s an interesting guy. Very athletic — he has a lot of tools.’’
The 6- 2, 215- pound, strongarmed, right- handed- hitting Dominican at one time was ranked 12th on Pirates prospects lists. But high strikeout rates and declining power at Class AAA Indianapolis in 2016 prompted the Pirates to cut him loose.
Garcia, batting fourth, went 11- for- 26 with two home runs, eight walks and six RBI in the Knights’ first seven games and was the International League’s first hitter of the week.
“Since we got him, he’s shown up every day, wants to work and understands what he needs to do to improve,’’ Getz said. “He knows what his plate- discipline issues were. And he’s done a lot of things to correct some of the things that got him in trouble. He’s starting to take walks.’’
Garcia’s presence opens the possibility of an all- Garcia outfield with Leury and Avisail.
Soto on DL; Smith brought up
Catcher Geovany Soto was put on the 10- day disabled list ( retroactive to April 12) with inflammation in his right elbow.
The Sox purchased the contract of catcher Kevan Smith from Charlotte.
Soto, scratched before the Sox’ 2- 1 victory Wednesday over the Indians, said an MRI showed no serious damage.
“It’s really uncomfortable,’’ he said. “While we all play with aches and pains, there comes a time where . . . I have to listen to my body.’’
Smith, 28, was 7- for- 16 with two doubles and nine RBI in his first four games with Charlotte after he appeared in 16 games during spring training.
In Arizona, he batted .343 with one homer and four RBI. He spent most of 2016 with Charlotte, batting .219 with eight homers in 49 games. He also appeared in seven games with the Sox, going 2- for- 16.
Soto, who clubbed three homers in five games, has a history of injury woes.
He was limited to 26 games with the Angels last season because of knee problems and only 24 games in 2014 with the Athletics and Rangers because of knee and groin injuries.
This and that
Todd Frazier ( flu) missed his second consecutive game. He’s congested but also has stomach issues that might be related to food poisoning.
The Sox were averaging 4.05 pitches per plate appearance in their first seven games, secondmost in the American League. Frazier leads the majors with an average of 5.04.
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