GLENDALE, Ariz. — There’s plenty of potential for impact from the middle of the Chicago White Sox lineup.
But — as Eloy Jiménez is well aware — it could all come down to availability on a consistent basis.
“Every time we are together, we can help more than being on the bench, watching the game,” the designated hitter/outfielder said Monday. “So, for me, that’s the biggest challenge, being together day by day and play 150-plus (games), so that’s our goal.”
In this instance, Jiménez was asked about the trio of himself, third baseman Yoán Moncada and center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
While Robert played a career-high 145 games in 2023, Jiménez and Moncada were out stretches with injuries. Moncada went on the IL twice with back-related issues and played 92 games. Jiménez missed almost a month after an appendectomy and finished at 120 games.
“They’re a big part of our lineup,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “You’re probably talking about three guys that can hit (in) the top five spots in the order. So, it’s important for these guys to stay healthy. But, listening to our trainers (Monday) come in and talk about the physicals and our strength and conditioning talk about their physicality and how they reported to camp, I’m really pleased with how they look. Not with just how they look, but how physical they are.
“They obviously put some good work in this offseason. And the offseason is critical for what we’re trying to accomplish here. And these guys, to a man, they put in the work. And so we were able to do what we did and put them through what we did (with Monday’s first full squad workout) and accomplish and execute it.”
Robert agreed that the three remaining healthy will be a key.
“Unfortunately that has hurt us (the) last couple of years,” Robert said through an interpreter Monday. “We haven’t been able to play with our full lineup. And if this year, we are able to stay healthy and everybody manages to stay healthy and play as many games as they can, then the results are going to be good for this team.”
Jiménez played in 122 games as a rookie in 2019 and appeared in 55 of the 60 contests while earning Silver Slugger Award honors during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Injuries limited him to less than 100 games in each of the following two seasons. He missed almost the first four months of 2021 with a pectoral tendon tear, playing in 55 games. And he played in 84 games in 2022, missing time with a strained right hamstring.
Jiménez increased his availability in 2023, despite being sidelined with an appendectomy in May.
He knows the importance of continuing to increase that total.
“Always, it’s health first,” Jiménez said. “I know it’s going to be a good year because I put in the work that I need to put in. Numbers are going to be there if I’m playing. So, that’s my goal, playing.”
Jiménez slashed .272/.317/.441 with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 64 RBIs in 2023. The home run and RBI totals were his best since 2019 when he had 31 home runs and 79 RBIs.
Jiménez said he had positive conversations with new hitting coach Marcus Thames during the offseason to keep clicking.
“He just (said) keep it simple, just wanted me to work on what I need to work (on),” Jimenez said. “Whatever I like, whatever I feel comfortable (with). And I like it.”
Grifol said Jiménez is a player who “can carry a team.”
“He’s worked this offseason to put himself in a position to be able to do that,” Grifol said Tuesday. “He, along with the other guys, healthy, can certainly create a little bit of havoc.
“We’ve just got to continue to work, do the right things — not just on the field, but do the right things off the field, in the weight room and training room — and really discipline ourselves to a point where we give ourselves a chance to be completely healthy and see what we can do as a club completely healthy.”
That will be crucial this season.
“I think (Jiménez) has a stronger understanding of what it takes to play on a daily basis,” general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday. “His potential is through the roof offensively. Now, to be able to reap the rewards of his offensive potential, he needs to be able to play on a daily basis. It’s his job and it’s our job to keep him on the field.”
