White Sox get glimpse of future vs. Cubs with Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada

February 27, 2017

When Lucas Giolito found himself in a tight spot with two runners on and nobody out Monday afternoon against the Cubs at Sloan Park, second baseman Yoan Moncada helped bail him out.

Moncada made a diving stop of Anthony Rizzo’s ground ball and tossed to shortstop Tim Anderson to start a double play.

It was one play in a Feb. 27 spring training game, but it represented a scenario the smattering of White Sox fans on hand would like to see more of in the future.

The Sox trotted out their top two prospects and their 23-year-old shortstop to face the defending World Series champs in the first of two spring meetings. The juxtaposition of the clubs was not lost on anyone as the Sox look to build around their prospects just as the Cubs did.

"The organization is taking the step that is hopefully leading us — as many organizations have done over the last six or seven years — to create something more sustainable over time," Sox manager Rick Renteria said before the game. "The foundation is being laid both with the players and the way they’re going about doing everything."

That the Sox have a long way to go in the rebuilding process was not lost in the conversation either — not only because there are more trades to be completed, but also because players such as Giolito and Moncada need more development.

Giolito, whom MLB.com ranked as the No. 11 prospect in baseball, said his adrenaline was pumping in front of a crowd of 14,621, and he got ahead of himself and missed, especially with his four-seam fastball. He gave up three hits, including a solo homer to Addison Russell on a four-seamer over the middle of the plate in the second, with a walk and two strikeouts.

"The biggest things are being able to differentiate throwing a curveball for a strike and throwing the good one down for a put-away pitch, and then commanding fastballs to both sides of the plate," Giolito said. "I did a better job today throwing fastballs away to lefties and inside to righties than the opposite. So we continue to work on that in the pen, but I’ll have plenty more opportunities."

More so than Giolito, Moncada is operating under a lot of hype this spring. The No. 2 prospect in baseball, he was the centerpiece of a trade with the Red Sox that convinced the Sox to part with Chris Sale, and he has drawn comparisons to seven-time All-Star Robinson Cano.

But Moncada doesn’t appear to mind such lofty expectations.

"For sure, those things motivate you," Moncada said through a team interpreter Monday. "When you’re compared to those types of players, one of the best in baseball, you want to push yourself more to the limits and to prove what you can do."

Moncada struck out twice in his first spring start and is 0-for-4 with a walk in three games.

Yoan Moncada on fitting in with the White Sox

White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada discusses how he’s fitting in with his new team and how he plans to improve his defense on Feb. 27, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

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He said the Sox under Renteria are instilling a "mentality" to improve in all aspects of the game, but defense certainly has been a focus for the 21-year-old. Renteria said early on they were trying to help Moncada stabilize his lower half so he is more balanced on defense.

"It’s nothing really hard, but you have to make adjustments," Moncada said. "I’m trying to have my legs a little more open (in my stance)."

Giolito, for one, was happy with Moncada’s defense.

"I’m glad he’s on my side," Giolito said. "Definitely that play was unbelievable. It really helped me get out of that inning."

Renteria recognizes what a strange turn of events it is that two seasons after the Cubs fired him, he is managing on the other side of Chicago. That he became manager of each team as part of a rebuilding process isn’t a coincidence, given his reputation for teaching, but doing it a second time does help with young Sox players.

"It’s patience," Renteria said. "It’s a process. It’s what you do to help them improve their game on a daily basis. We’re keeping it pretty positive here. They’ve been doing very, very well. But like we tell them, every day is a test and then we’ll figure out where we’re at from there."

Extra innings: Third baseman Todd Frazier returned to work after a week off while dealing with a left oblique strain. Frazier said he took 35 swings in the cage and 35 ground balls and believes he’s "right where we need to be" in his recovery. He has been doing cardio and shoulder work but wanted to take it slow coming back to avoid aggravating the injury. … First baseman Jose Abreu was leaving for Miami after the game to tend to a personal matter, according to a team official. The Sox expect him to return Wednesday.

ckane@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribKane

Caption White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on his start against the Cubs

White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on his start against the Cubs. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

Caption White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on his start against the Cubs

White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on his start against the Cubs. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Rick Renteria on moving on from the Cubs

White Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses moving on from the Cubs on Feb. 27, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Yoan Moncada on fitting in with the White Sox

White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada discusses how he’s fitting in with his new team and how he plans to improve his defense on Feb. 27, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Miguel Gonzalez, Jose Quintana on their 2017 Cactus League debuts

White Sox pitchers Miguel Gonzalez and Jose Quintana react after their 2017 Cactus League debuts on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, after an exhibition against the Rockies. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

Caption White Sox second baseman Brett Lawrie on sitting out early spring games

White Sox second baseman Brett Lawrie on sitting out early spring games. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)

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