Like it or not, Eloy Jimenez positioned to be White Sox's regular DH this season
Eloy Jimenez was nowhere near Guaranteed Rate Field Wednesday when Andrew Benintendi was officially introduced by the White Sox.
He was out of sight, but Jimenez was not out of mind.
After signing a five-year, $75 million contract - the largest in franchise history - Benintendi instantly became the Sox's starting left fielder.
In addition to being a premier contact hitter, Benintendi is a skilled defender and Gold Glove winner.
Jimenez is the White Sox's best power hitter, but he's had one misadventure after another in left field the past four seasons. He's also been injury prone, and the Sox used Jimenez at designated hitter for his final 28 games last year. Did he like the DH role?
"I still don't like it, but I need to do my job," Jimenez said late last season. "It is what it is right now."
When asked about DHing earlier in the year, he said: "I (expletive) hate it."
Jimenez likes playing left field. He likes being a two-way player. The outgoing 6-foot-4, 240-pounder really likes being out on the grass where he can interact with fans in the bleachers.
Like it or not, the 26-year-old Jimenez is almost certain to be used as the Sox's regular designated hitter this year.
New White Sox manager Pedro Grifol was asked about Jimenez at Benintendi's introductory media gathering.
"I've spoken to Eloy," Grifol said. "Benny comes here to play left field, he's done it his whole career and he's obviously very good at it. I've spoken to Eloy, I've told him to continue to work in the outfield, to work some in right field as well. So that conversation has already been had with him and in a true professional manner, Eloy is like, 'Whatever is best for this ballclub and whatever helps us win baseball games.'"
Grifol's mention of Jimenez possibly getting playing time in right fielder drew immediate reaction from Sox fans and the overwhelming opinion was negative.
In addition to being hurt in the outfield multiple times since 2019, Jimenez is a below-average defender.
He doesn't like to DH, but Jimenez had success in the role last season and hit .274/.343/.500 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 50 games.
He did even better at the plate while playing left field, slashing .340/.389/.515 with 5 homers and 19 RBI in 30 starts.
After speaking with Grifol, and being a team-first player, look for Jimenez to report to spring training next month and be on board with being the regular designated hitter while playing right or left field once or twice a week.
"I talked to Eloy and he's all in," Grifol said. "He's a professional, he knows what we're trying to do. He said, 'Whatever it takes to win baseball games. I'm in this thing to play October baseball, that's what this is about.'
"And I said, 'That's all we need to hear.' Our job is to keep Eloy in the lineup throughout the whole year. And if we can do that, if he can stay healthy, I know he'll have a big year for us."