Leasure is all smiles on first day in bigs
First-time major-leaguer Jordan Leasure said his White Sox teammates kept walking up to him at the ballpark to say “stop smiling.”
“It’s hard not to,” Leasure said. Indeed it is when you make a majorleague team for the first time and are getting ready for Opening Day. That was Leasure’s world Thursday after he won a spot in the bullpen in spring training.
“It was really cool. Walking into the clubhouse, trying to find my way in here, and then going out to the stadium and seeing it for the first time,” Leasure said.
“And the stadium is beautiful, it’s massive. Today I’m able to know where I’m going, feel better about it.”
Leasure, acquired with righty Nick Nastrini last summer in trade that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers, strung together nine scoreless outings in spring training before giving up two runs in his last one Sunday.
“Power stuff, strike thrower, weapons to strike people out,” manager Pedro Grifol said when asked about Leasure, 25. “Composure, high character, good makeup.”
Bullpen roles will evolve in the coming days. Leasure did not pitch in the opener in relief of Garrett Crochet’s six-inning stint.
Deivi Garcia pitched the seventh, Michael Kopech got out of his own basesloaded jam in the eighth and Dominic Leone worked the ninth.
“Everyone in the bullpen will fit in somewhere,” Leasure said. “They have different pockets they want us to go in and face different hitters kind of based on the matchups. At this point, we are just ready to go whenever the phone rings.”
Talk the talk
Luis Robert Jr. doesn’t need most questions from media interpreted for him, but he still uses translator Billy Russo to relay his answers. After saying he’s getting closer to answering questions in English, he proved it.
“I think I have it in there, but I’m still afraid to speak [English] in front of the cameras,” Robert, who is from Cuba, said through Russo. “It’s coming.”
Shortly after saying that, Robert spoke in English for about 15 seconds on NBC Sports Chicago’s pregame show.
Opening Day starter
Six topsy-turvy days after getting released by the Sox, Kevin Pillar was the starting right fielder on Opening Day.
“It’s a cool celebration of getting here,” Pillar said. “We have four or five guys here making their first Opening Day roster, so it’s exciting for them but it definitely is to me. This is my 10th Opening Day, which is a cool honor, and it’s even more special to be a starter.”
Pillar, who was in camp on a minor-league deal that would pay $3 million if he made the Opening Day roster, was released Friday. General manager Chris Getz, who signed veteran outfielder Robbie Grossman to a minorleague contract the same day, encouraged Pillar to see if a better offer was out there.
Pillar came back on a $1 million salary with $500,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances.
“I’m in a great place,” Pillar said. “I’m where I’m supposed to be at this given time.”
The contract “is a reminder that it’s no longer a game,” Pillar said. “We’re supposed to go out and play it like it’s a kid’s game, that’s the message we get, to play. But it is a business. It’s not personal.
“But this is a day to be celebrated, Opening Day.”
This and that
Former Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti, who began his first season as a Tigers broadcaster Thursday, waved and blew kisses to a cheering crowd when shown on the Guaranteed Rate video board.
† Ozzie Guillen, accompanied by wife Ibis and two grandchildren, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.