Chicago White Sox catcher Zack Collins used the word ‘electric’ to describe what he experienced watching Michael Kopech’s return to the mound this spring.
Zack Collins first 86 at-bats in the big leagues featured a lot of swing and miss. Collins struck out 39-times while showing prodigious power on occasion. His first major league hit was a home run against the Texas Rangers. He also cracked homers on back-to-back days in mid-September at Minnesota. Collins finished the big league portion of his year hitting .186, but did walk 14 times in 101 plate appearances. The 39 K’s did not bother him.
“Not a concern for me to cut down my strikeouts. I think that is something I learned from (Yoan) Moncada last year. He used to strike out a ton and last year he had a great year, didn’t strike out as much. He told me when he stopped thinking about cutting down the strikeouts, he started striking out a lot less,” Collins said.
Collins now faces a daunting battle to get on the field, competing with two All-Stars in Yasmani Grandal and James McCann behind the plate, plus Jose Abreu and Edwin Encarnacion taking up the DH/1B at-bats. Collins just wants to play somewhere consistently.
“I’m trying to prolong my big league time as much as possible and stay up there as long as possible. I don’t think playing once a week is something that can show teams and show our organization that I am ready. Maybe the best thing for me is to go to Triple-A. That is not what I want to do, what anyone wants to do, but its the truth.” Collins said.
If Collins ends up starting the year at Triple-A Charlotte, he may be catching Michael Kopech, who the White Sox will in all likelihood ease back into the big league rotation. Collins has been impressed with Kopech so far this spring,
“He (Kopech) has been looking great. He threw to live hitters again today and is looking electric, just like he did before the injury.”
If Collins does spend time in the big leagues with the White Sox this year, he is looking forward to learning more from Yasmani Grandal.
“I worked with him since I was 14, he has helped me a ton. He taught me everything I know from behind the plate for the most part. We get along well.”
Patience and keeping a positive attitude will be key for Collins. James McCann is a free agent at the end of the season. Collins could slide into that role next year, and is insurance in case anyone gets hurt in 2020. Left handed hitting catchers with power, don’t grow on trees. The White Sox are not in a hurry to give one up in Collins.