Ynoa Had His Moment With White Sox
CHICAGO–As the White Sox waited out a rain delay at U.S. Cellular Field on April 10, pitching coach Don Cooper looked over at a corner of the clubhouse and beamed.
“What I did tell him (in spring training) was, ‘You’re not that far away,’ ” Cooper said. “Boy, was I a prophet.”
Cooper was talking about 24-year-old Dominican righthander Michael Ynoa, who joined the White Sox for one day when outfielder Adam Eaton was placed on the paternity list.
“I’m still in shock,” the 6-foot-7 Ynoa said after arriving from Double-A Birmingham. “I’m happy to be here, and thanks to the White Sox for giving me this opportunity.”
Ynoa had his own locker and dressed with the White Sox, but he never made it to the field or bullpen because the game was rained out. Eaton was activated after the postponement and Ynoa went back to Birmingham.
“Michael had an interesting day,” big league manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s good for him. I think he would have (preferred) there had been a game, but you are taking a young kid who earned an opportunity to come up here. He gets to be in the clubhouse, put his uniform on, feel a part of it.”
Ynoa impressed the organization in spring training, pitching five scoreless Cactus League innings and striking out six.
“He can spin it,” Ventura said. “You start looking at his size and his release coming out of his hand, he deserves to be here.”
Chicago acquired Ynoa from the Athletics after the 2014 season in the trade that also brought Jeff Samardzija from Oakland. Last season, two bouts with shoulder discomfort limited Ynoa to 28 relief appearances at high Class A Winston-Salem, where he recorded a 2.61 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 38 innings. Ynoa also had Tommy John surgery in 2011.
The A’s originally signed Ynoa in 2008.
“That was my focus in the offseason, to work hard and be ready for anything and try to be healthy,” Ynoa said. “I think that this was my first year to feel like I’m ready to go.”
CHI-LITES
• The White Sox signed righthander Miguel Gonzalez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. The Orioles released him at the end of spring training.
• Top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer, a righthander taken eighth overall last year, opened the season at Birmingham.
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