Moncada goes deep against Hammel, Herrera
GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada hit consecutive home runs in his last two at- bats Wednesday, including one against hard- throwing Royals right- hander Kelvin Herrera. Moncada’s first homer came against starter Jason Hammel, who had blanked the Sox until then.
It served as a needed shot in the arm for the 21- year- old switch hitter acquired in the trade for Chris Sale. Moncada came into the game batting .200 with no homers and 13 strikeouts in 13 games. Before going deep, Moncada, playing second base, made his team- high fifth error of the spring on Raul Mondesi’s grounder in the fifth inning.
“I’ve been putting a lot of effort into my defense because that’s an area I know I can improve,’’ Moncada said. “But I’m also putting a lot of effort into my offense because you can’t just worry about one aspect of the game.’’
While Moncada hadn’t done much offensively, he had shown flashes of his speed with a triple as well as an easy, smooth swing. The Sox like his patient approach at the plate.
“This is a process, and you know that you have to keep on working in this process,’’ Moncada said. “You’re going to have ups and downs. I’m very happy with the process. The results are going to be there when I need it.’’
“He’s chipping away at the approaches, trying to see enough pitches and get himself into a rhythm,’’ manager Rick Renteria said Tuesday. “He’s had really good moments in the games he’s played.
“We like where it’s going, he’s improving and he’s a young man just scratching at the surface of what he can potentially be. Time and experience will ultimately show what he is.’’
2 convicted in smuggling trial
A Miami jury convicted a Florida sports agent and a baseball trainer on charges they smuggled Cuban baseball players into the United States in search of big profits from professional freeagent contracts.
The verdict came after jurors heard about six weeks of testimony in the trial of Bartolo Hernandez and Julio Estrada, who were indicted on conspiracy and alien- smuggling charges for an operation that began in 2009 and involved a number of highprofile major- league players.
The jury deliberated only about five hours. Prosecutors said Hernandez faces between three and 15 years in prison, and Estrada — convicted on more smuggling counts — faces between five and 35 years.
Trial evidence showed an existing Cuban smuggling operation that brought people from the communist- run island to Mexico became the platform in 2009 for the much more lucrative trade in elite ballplayers. People involved in that operation testified it was ultimately overseen by Hernandez and Estrada.
In one of the trial’s memorable moments, Jose Abreu testified that he ate a piece of his phony Haitian passport while flying to the United States in 2013 because he feared repercussions if he landed in Miami with a fake document. Abreu soon after signed a $ 68 million deal with the Sox.
Abreu, who was close to Estrada, declined comment Wednesday. Contributing: Associated Press Follow me on Twitter @ CST_ soxvan.