GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 \u201cWorker\u201d was the first word that came to the mind of Chicago White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon when describing Munetaka Murakami.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes not shy away from the work,\u201d Shomon said Thursday at Camelback Ranch. \u201cBeen very clear about wanting the information. Wants to utilize the resources that we have.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think more times than not it might be trying to pull him out of the cage and remind him to breathe, (rather) than having to push him in the cage to actually get work done. The guy works really hard. It\u2019s been fun to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Munetaka Murakami fights through butterflies \u2014 and traffic \u2014 in productive spring debut for Chicago White Sox<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Shomon offered several early-spring hitting evaluations Thursday, including how Murakami is getting acclimated<\/a> after spending the last eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.<\/p>\n \u201cHe came in with an ideal,\u201d Shomon said. \u201cThis guy\u2019s smart. The attitude is there. He has an understanding of likely what is going to be exposed and he\u2019s doing a really good job attacking it on a daily basis and being really intentional with his work. That certainly makes it easier for us.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was alignment there as soon as he came into town. Yeah, it can be tough, you\u2019ve kind of got to pick and choose, especially with a guy getting ready to leave for (the World Baseball Classic), how much do you want to give them? On top of the fact that this is all new for him. Testament to his work, his work ethic, and just how savvy he is. He has a clue and he really is getting ahead of it.\u201d<\/p>\n While Murakami is preparing for his first major-league season, players such as shortstop Colson Montgomery, second baseman Chase Meidroth and catchers Edgar Quero \u2014 who had a two singles, one double and four RBIs in Saturday\u2019s 11-2 win against the Athletics in a Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch \u2014 and Kyle Teel each got their first opportunities to consistently see big-league pitching in 2025.<\/p>\n Shomon\u2019s message to that group is \u201ccontinuing the good work that they did last year, especially in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut then staying ahead of what the game is going to throw them next. Literally, figuratively,\u201d he said. \u201cYour willingness to respond in a timely fashion to what the game is giving you. That very much is related to how you\u2019re being attacked, and whether that\u2019s pitch types, or certain zones, so on and so forth.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the understanding that the game is going to give you the blueprint and your willingness to respond in a timely fashion is the ability to adjust and be able to perform.\u201d<\/p>\n Photos: An inside look at Chicago White Sox spring training<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Remaining in the infield, Shomon noted third baseman Miguel Vargas\u2019 ability to make good decisions, make contact and his damage capability.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s just piecing it together consistently,\u201d Shomon said. \u201cJust continuing to do the good work and we\u2019ll let the game kind of tell us what we need to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n Outfielder Everson Pereira, acquired as part of an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, has been dealing with tightness on his right side<\/a> the last couple of days. He was off to a strong start to camp before the setback.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we had our meeting with him, it\u2019s like, dude, you make good decisions, you do damage, you can move it forward,\u201d Shomon said. \u201cIt\u2019s the contact thing, right? It\u2019s the bat to ball, it\u2019s the in-zone whiff. It\u2019s not that you don\u2019t know how to make contact, you do, otherwise wouldn\u2019t be here. It\u2019s like what\u2019s causing the contact issues? So, I think those things were identified early on with him and every day they\u2019re attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n