Collins excelling as roster firms up
As opening day nears, catcher has success as designated hitter
Zack Collins admits a younger version of himself might be anxious, waiting to hear if he had earned a spot on the Chicago White Sox opening-day roster.
That’s not how the 26-yearold catcher is approaching the situation this spring.
“The old Zack would get antsy. The new one is just going out there and having fun,” Collins said Friday. “Obviously I would like to know here pretty soon whether or not I’ve made the team, but every day I’m just doing the best I can.”
Collins is excelling, slashing .333/.422/.590 in 18 Cactus League games through Friday. He’s tied for the team lead with three home runs and has six RBIs and six walks.
Collins has been one of the most consistent hitters this spring for the Sox while competing for the open backup catcher spot with Jonathan Lucroy and Yermin Mercedes.
There’s also potentially a ripple effect with star left fielder Eloy Jimenez out five to six months after suffering a ruptured left pectoral tendon. The Sox are contemplating having Andrew Vaughn, a leading candidate for the DH slot, fill in some in left field. If Vaughn spends time in left field, that could mean some available at-bats at designated hitter.
“I would hope that I’ve earned a spot on the roster,” Collins said. “I’m going to go out there and do anything that they ask me, whether that’s being Yaz’s (Yasmani Grandal) backup every whatever day that they throw me out there or being a DH, going to first (base) sometimes.
“I’m here to do whatever they say and go out there and do my best every time they do it.”
If called upon, Collins is keeping his role in perspective.
“Obviously Eloy is one of our top bats; you never want to lose a guy like that,” Collins said. “But my job isn’t to fill his shoes, my job is to go out there and do as best I can and try to help the team win every way I possibly can and ... try to have as much fun as possible.”
Collins served as the designated hitter Friday and gave the offense a jolt in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers with a two-run homer to left-center at American Family Fields of Phoenix. The left-handed-hitting Collins has had success hitting the ball the other way.
“Obviously, (pitchers are) throwing a lot of balls outside, but when I’m feeling good, I’m driving balls all over the field,” Collins said. “I’m not really trying to hit balls that way, but when you put good swings on it, get the ball up in the air, good things happen, so I feel pretty good right now.”
The Sox selected Collins with the No. 10 pick in the 2016 draft. He has had limited playing time, slashing .167/.286/.314 with three home runs and 12 RBIs over 36 games the last two seasons.
Chris Getz, the assistant general manager/player development for the Sox, has been impressed with Collins, Mercedes and fellow catcher Seby Zavala on and off the field this spring.
“They came into camp fighting for a chance to make this club, and I felt that we got the best version of all these guys,” Getz said Friday. “When it comes to Zack, he’s been really focused, both defensively and offensively, building a rapport with our pitchers, gaining the trust of our coaching staff. He’s in a really confident headspace right now, and you see that on the field. The pitchers feel that, his teammates feel that.
“His at-bats have been really solid. He’s always a guy that has been able to work counts, have deep at-bats, but also he’s punishing some pitches. It’s been a successful spring training for Zack, and we really want to continue to build on that and create some momentum going into the season.”