Short pop: Saladino, Rollins exhibit some power
SAN DIEGO — For a guy with a good-field, light-hit reputation, infielder Tyler Saladino packed a surprisingly good punch this spring.
In 16 Cactus League games, Saladino was 14-for-44 with five home runs, five doubles and 14 RBI.
Saladino, 26, who hit 41 homers over six minor-league seasons and four as a rookie in 2015, tied for the team lead with prospect Matt Davidson.
“I tried to simplify,’’ Saladino said of his approach to hitting this spring. “Make it as simple as possible, keep things to a minimum so the necessary adjustments are more minor than anything huge. Stay within a small work area.’’
Jimmy Rollins will start at shortstop on Opening Day and will play the most as long as his production is there, but Saladino will get plenty of innings at short to keep the 37-year-old switch hitter fresh. Rollins would be the Sox’ oldest Opening Day shortstop since Luke Appling, who was 42 in 1949.
Between Rollins (.354, four homers, 13 RBI this spring) and Saladino, the Sox got nine home runs and 27 RBI from their shortstops. That’s a lot of pop.
“[Saladino] definitely can play,’’ Rollins said. “He has some hands. We call him ‘Emanski’ [after the instructional-video master] out there; he does everything so fundamentally sound.’’
Waiver-wire watching
With uncertainty about Mat Latos and an overall shortage of right-handed starting-pitching depth, the Sox have their eye on Miguel Gonzalez, who was somewhat unexpectedly put on release waivers Thursday by the Orioles. Any team claiming Gonzalez in the 48-hour period will owe him his entire $5.1 million salary, so he likely will not be claimed and will become a free agent.
Gonzalez, 31, experienced groin, elbow and shoulder problems last season and posted a 4.91 ERA after pitching to a 3.45 ERA from 2012 to 2014. A popular player in the Orioles’ clubhouse, Gonzalez struggled for most of spring training but looked better in his last start Tuesday, allowing a run in five innings against the Braves.
Latos, signed to a one-year, $3 million deal in February, didn’t make it through five innings in his two spring starts. He is scheduled to start the first of two exhibitions in San Diego this weekend.
General manager Rick Hahn has money to spend, having saved $13 million in salary when Adam LaRoche unexpectedly retired.
This and that
Left-hander Carlos Rodon threw 108 pitches in a simulated game at the Sox’ spring-training facility, his last extended tuneup for his first assignment in the Sox’ third game of the season Wednesday against the Athletics in Oakland.
◆ The Sox enjoyed a day off before playing those exhibitions Friday (9:05 p.m.) and Saturday (3:05) against the Padres at Petco Park. Both games will be broadcast on WLS-AM (890).
◆ The matchup Monday featuring Chris Sale against the A’s Sonny Gray will be the Sox’ first night season opener since 2006. Program alert: The game will start about 45 minutes after tipoff of the NCAA men’s basketball championship game.
◆ Sale, who missed last season’s opener in Kansas City because of an off-field foot injury suffered early in spring training, is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two Opening Day starts.
◆ The Sox released minorleaguers Scott Hairston, Maikel Cleto and Steve Lombardozzi.
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