Adam LaRoche is a big addition to the White Sox lineup. (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
Only one week remains before the Chicago White Sox play their first spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the meantime, the new-look White Sox are taking a crash course in team chemistry.
A roster overhaul during the offseason has led to a slew of handshakes and introductions this spring at the team’s facility in Glendale, Ariz. The White Sox feature 20 new players on their 40-man roster compared with the start of spring training a year ago.
Some of the players are steady veterans, such as right-hander Jeff Samardzija, left fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman/designated hitter Adam LaRoche. Others hope to stick with complementary roles, such as infielder Emilio Bonifacio and catcher Geovany Soto.
One thing is for certain: Someone will have to step forward to fill the leadership void created by the retirement of Paul Konerko, who spent the previous 16 seasons in Chicago. The longest-tenured White Sox player now is LHP John Danks, a 29-year-old who has battled injuries and inconsistency during the past few seasons.
The best position player on the White Sox is first baseman Jose Abreu, but language barriers make it difficult for him to be a vocal leader. That role could fall to LaRoche, 35, who knows the importance of team camaraderie after stints in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Boston, Arizona and Washington.
Let the chemistry experiment begin.
