White Sox: With Avisail Garcia it is about 'just playing'

Sep 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) hits a double in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a lot this offseason to digest with the Chicago White Sox. There have been the big free agent signings, trades, retirements and players looking to improve from the previous season.

One player on the White Sox roster mentioned in articles on this week is Avisail Garcia, one for losing weight since the end of the ’14 season, but also for his overall potential he can bring to a revamped White Sox club if he can stay healthy.

Garcia missed most of the ’14 season when he injured is left shoulder in early April, not returning until August. In fact it was a torn left labrum that cost him pretty much the entire ’14 season, but just think of what he can become if he can stay on the field for a 162-game season.

Projections for Garcia in ’15 have him with a .263 average, along with a .308 OBP and .414 SLG by Steamer. In 46 games last season Garcia batted .244 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.

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The good thing for the young Garcia is he won’t have to carry the burden of being “the guy” so to speak for the White Sox this upcoming season, as that role will be left for the likes of Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera and even Adam LaRoche in ’15.

Since the White Sox traded for Garcia in ’13, there have been some high hopes for him. We can consider last season a wash in his progression at the MLB level, so this season is very important for him and for the White Sox.

Even though his health has already been mentioned, that’s my No. 1 concern for him as the White Sox near spring training, and eventually Opening Day. He needs to be on the field, because even with the star power the White Sox signed, Garcia is a very important piece to the White Sox puzzle if they want to ever return to the postseason.

In an article by WhiteSox.com, it says of the White Sox right fielder, quoting White Sox Vice-President Ken Williams:

"“He’s going to play outstanding defense. And he has a little flair about him, a little fun, and an aggressiveness going first to third and second to home that’s like Kirk Gibson‘s kind of aggressiveness. What else do you want? Just go play.”"

Maybe that should be the motto of all of the White Sox in 2015 … “Just Go Play.”

That is what this team has been lacking as of late, and with the 10-year anniversary of the World Series champion White Sox team being celebrated this year, maybe this group of players can be just like those guys and “Just Go Play.”

With Garcia, the best advice he can receive from Williams is that … “Just Go Play”

White Sox: With Avisail Garcia it is about ‘just playing’

By Stephen Forsha | Jan 28, 2015