MLB Spring Training Recap: March 5
Winner: Danny Mendick, Chicago White Sox shortstop
All the White Sox buzz concerns Luis Robert, who signed that mega-deal this winter, or Yoan Moncada, who signed one of his own this week. Nobody’s talking about Danny Mendick.
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Mendick won’t be the starting shortstop on opening day…not as long as 2019 batting champion Tim Anderson is healthy. But against the Colorado Rockies Thursday. The backup middle infield candidate stated his case for why he ought to be in the big city, if not on the field.
Mendick’s 3-for-3 day included a run-producing second-inning single, a leadoff single in the fifth, and another base hit in the sixth. Mendick is by no means assured of a roster spot and his 3-for-3 day only raised his MLB spring training average into the .260s, but it came at an apropos time.
Loser: Sam Huff, Texas Rangers catcher
Sam Huff is the No. 2 rated prospect in the Rangers system, but as a non-roster invitee, he’s mostly in camp for the experience. Against the Cubs Thursday, he got some tough love.
Huff started at catcher in the split-squad game and played five and one-half innings, all of it replete with missed opportunities.
In the second, Huff came up with a runner on base and two out and fanned. He batted again in the fourth, this time with the bases full and none out, and went down on strikes a second time. In the fifth, Huff’s third at-bat with a man on resulted in a force out.
His personal line for the day included three trips to the plate resulting in five runners left stranded.