AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL SPRING TRIANING REPORTS

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2018 RECORD: 62-100, fourth place, AL Central; missed playoffs

MANAGER: Rick Renteria, third season with White Sox (129-195)

THE BASICS

HOME STADIUM: Camelback Ranch-Glendale, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale, AZ 85037

DIRECTIONS: Access AZ 101 off Interstate 10 or 17. Take Loop 101 North (from I-10) or Loop 101 West (from I-17). Exit Camelback Road west (Exit 5). Stadium is about 1 mile on the north side of Camelback Road.

INFORMATION: 623-302-5000; www. WhiteSox.com/spring;www.CamelbackRanchbaseball.com 

PROSPECT TO WATCH: ELOY JIMENEZ, OF. Jimenez destroyed upper-level pitching with a .336 batting average and 22 home runs across Class AA and AAA. He has advanced feel for the barrel with plus-plus power to all fields, while his contact skills continued to improve. The 22-year-old has nothing more to prove in the minors and should be up within a few weeks of the season. Sox fans can dream on adding one of the game’s great emerging hitters.

BURNING QUESTIONS

REINFORCEMENTS ON THE WAY

WILL PITCHING ADDITIONS BE UPGRADE?

With Tommy John surgery sidelining Michael Kopech and 2018 minor league pitcher of the year Dylan Cease not expected to reach the majors until late 2019, the White Sox traded for veteran Ivan Nova. He could help take some of the burden off youngsters Carlos Rodón, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López.

Chicago bolstered a young bullpen by signing Kelvin Herrera to a two-year, $18 million deal and trading for Alex Colomé. Herrera saved 26 games in 2017 and 17 last season as he dealt with injuries. Colomé led the majors with 47 saves in 2017. The White Sox bullpen was 23rd in the majors with a 4.49 ERA last season.

DOES ABREU HAVE ENOUGH HELP?

Two-time Silver Slugger-winning 1B José Abreu, 32, has been a mainstay, driving in at least 100 runs in each of his first four seasons. But he had a down 2018, batting .265 with 78 RBI as the team ranked 21st in slugging, 23rd in OPS, 24th in runs and 26th in on-base percentage.

Chicago added first baseman-DH Yonder Alonso in a trade and OF Jon Jay as a free agent. More important, Eloy Jiménez, the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, is waiting in the wings. The 22- year-old slashed .337/.384/.577 with 22 homers in 108 games between AA and AAA. He’s expected to be in the majors to start the season or soon afterward. 

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2018 RECORD: 91-71, first place, AL Central; lost in ALDS

MANAGER: Terry Francona, seventh season with Indians (545-425)

THE BASICS

HOME STADIUM: Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ, 85338 

DIRECTIONS: Take 1-10 East. Exit 126 (Estrella Parkway). Travel south on Estrella Parkway about 3 miles to Goodyear Boulevard. Take a left onto Goodyear Boulevard. Goodyear Ballpark will be on the left.

INFORMATION: 623-882-3120 or 866488-7423; www.indians.com/spring

PROSPECT TO WATCH: Yu Chang, SS. Chang’s power took a step back with just 13 home runs at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) in 2018. He has plus speed with the ability for double-digit steals, and while his uppercut swing is designed for power, the bat path causes some swing and miss. The 24-year-old is nearly major league-ready, but he’s more of a utility piece for 2019. He is a career .251 hitter in 509 minor league games but has a career .326 on-base percentage. He hit 24 homers in Class AA in 2017.

BURNING QUESTIONS

LINEUP GETS AN OVERHAUL

WHO’S GOING TO PLAY THE OUTFIELD?

The Indians might have the least-established outfield in a generally weak AL Central. It’s expected they will roll with some combination of Greg Allen, Leonys Martin, Matt Joyce, Tyler Naquin, Jordan Luplow and, when healthy, Bradley Zimmer. Those six averaged 65 games and 194 at-bats in the big leagues last season. Only Martin, whose season ended due to a near-fatal illness, had above a .675 OPS.

There’s not much help in the minors, where converted shortstop Oscar Mercado and Daniel Johnson might hold the most upside.

DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH OFFENSE?

An offense that finished in the top six in all of baseball in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS looks unrecognizable. Francisco Lindor, who might not be available for opening day and Jose Ramirez, combined for more home runs than any other teammates in the majors in 2018.

Outside of that dynamic duo, the Indians’ current lineup is underwhelming.

Gone are Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion, Yan Gomes and Yonder Alonso, everyday starters from last year who combined for 88 home runs. The Indians are slated to replace them with Greg Allen, Carlos Santana, Roberto Perez and Jake Bauers, respectively, who combined for nearly 50 homers less (39) in 2018.

DETROIT TIGERS

2018 RECORD: 64-98, third place, AL Central; missed playoffs

MANAGER: Ron Gardenhire, second season with Tigers (64-98)

THE BASICS

HOME STADIUM: Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33805 

DIRECTIONS: From the east or west — Take I-4 to Exit 33; go south on State Road 33 about 2½ miles; the stadium is on the left.

INFORMATION: 863-686-8075, 866668-4437; www.tigers.com/spring

PROSPECT TO WATCH: Christin Stewart, OF. Stewart, 25, has consistently hit for power and gotten on base since he was drafted 34th overall in 2015, a pattern that got him to Detroit for a September debut. Now, he’ll bat in the middle of the lineup on a rebuilding club and likely start in left field. Stewart’s future might be at DH, but his career .363 on-base percentage will play there. He has 87 doubles and a career .865 on-base plus slugging percentage in 460 minor league games.

BURNING QUESTIONS

REBUILD ENTERS FULL SWING

HOW LONG WILL THE REBUILD TAKE?

Tigers general manager Al Avila has stayed as far away as possible from pinpointing an exact year for the team returning to contention. Generally speaking, such an endeavor takes five years.

The Tigers are entering their second year of the process. Their farm system has improved over the past two years, but they are riskily relying on power right-handers to carry the torch.

Casey Mize and Matt Manning might be the best two prospect righties in baseball but remain at least a year away. But it’s hard to imagine the Tigers fielding a winner anytime soon. An early guess: 2023.

WHAT DOES MIGUEL CABRERA’S FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

No longer will the most feared hitter in baseball, Cabrera return from season- ending surgery for a torn biceps tendon. Cabrera, 36, is reporting to spring training at full health. The bigger challenge is staying that way. He has battled myriad injuries over the past four seasons, mostly lower body.

Cabrera is still an elite hitter — he led baseball in exit velocity before his injury last year — and will remain so for as long as his body allows. The days of 30-plus home runs are likely gone, but all hope is not lost. The Tigers will start him at DH more this season, hoping to avoid further injuries.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2018 RECORD: 58-104, fifth place, AL Central; missed playoffs

MANAGER: Ned Yost, ninth full season with Royals (687-736)

THE BASICS

HOME STADIUM: Surprise Stadium, 15930 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise, AZ 85374

DIRECTIONS: From downtown Phoenix: I-10 West to 101 North to Grand Avenue (Exit 11). Turn left onto Grand Avenue, left onto Bell Road and left onto Bullard Avenue.

INFORMATION: 623-222-2222; www.Royals.com/spring

PROSPECT TO WATCH: Ryan O’Hearn, 1B. Always good for 20 to 25 home runs in the minor leagues, O’Hearn, 25, is a good bet to hit that mark in his first full season in Kansas City. He debuted last July and was solid: 12 homers in 149 at bats, a .353 OBP and .950 OPS. O’Hearn should bat no lower than fifth and provide solid power and run production. In 558 minor league games, O’Hearn has hit .270 with a .821 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 95 homers, 117 doubles and 325 RBI.

BURNING QUESTIONS

ROYALS BUILD WITH SPEED

WHAT ROLE WILL WHIT MERRIFIELD PLAY?

Merrifield signed a four-year deal that guarantees him at least $16 million with a club option in 2023. He led the AL with 192 hits and 45 steals in 2018 and ranked sixth with a .304 batting average. The lineup will likely be built around him.

Salvador Perez brings needed power as the two-time Silver Slugger winner had 27 homers in 2018. Adalberto Mondesi played 75 games but hit 14 homers.

Outfielder Alex Gordon had 124 hits with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. The addition of Billy Hamilton brings speed and fits well in Kauffman Stadium.

HOW DOES THE STARTING ROTATION LOOK?

The Royals’ 4.94 ERA was second worst in MLB last season. Danny Duffy and Jakob Junis figure to be the top two starters, but staying healthy is a concern. Duffy (8-12, 4.88 ERA) was limited by a shoulder impingement and tendinitis but fanned 141 batters in 2018. Junis also struggled with injury but completed his second year with a 4.37 ERA, 164 strikeouts in 30 games.

Ian Kennedy and Brad Keller appeared to solidify their rotation spots. Keller started the season in the bullpen but led the rotation with a 3.08 ERA, and Kennedy, who faced an oblique strain in July, averaged seven strikeouts per game. Heath Fillmyer, Jesse Hahn and Jorge Lopez will fight for the fifth spot.

MINNESOTA TWINS

2018 RECORD: 78-84, second place, AL Central; missed playoffs

MANAGER: Rocco Baldelli, first season with Twins

THE BASICS

HOME STADIUM: Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912

DIRECTIONS: Take I-75 to Exit 131 (Daniels Road); go west 2 miles to Six Mile Cypress Parkway; go south for a half-mile; the ballpark is on the right.

INFORMATION: 800-338-9467; www.Twinsbaseball.com/spring

PROSPECT TO WATCH: Willians Astudillo, C. Astudillo is at the oldest prospect edge at 27, but he is remarkable for many reasons. Among them: He rarely walks or strikes out. In 97 plate appearances last year he walked twice and struck out three times, and still managed a .371 OBP. In nine minor league seasons, he has 85 walks and 81 strikeouts in 2,461 plate appearances.

BURNING QUESTIONS

BALDELLI TAKES THE REINS

WHAT WILL NEW LINEUP LOOK LIKE?

The lineup ranked in the middle of the pack last year, and a playoff run will require more speed and power. Veterans Nelson Cruz, C.J. Cron, and Jonathan Schoop signed with the Twins during the offseason and are expected to lengthen the lineup. Six-time All-Star Cruz, 38, hit 37 homers and Cron 30.

Jorge Polanco and Eddie Rosario give the Twins a power-speed combination. Polanco, after an 80-game suspension, had 42 RBI, and Rosario hit 24 homers.

Outfielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano offer promise but had down seasons. Sano also missed time with injuries and off-field issues. The 2017 All-Star saw his plate appearances cut in half.

WHAT WILL BE BALDELLI’S EFFECT?

Rocco Baldelli, 37, inherits a team that finished second in the AL Central. As analytics become increasingly key, he brings a fresh perspective. Baldelli’s playing career ended abruptly due to a mitochondrial disorder. He joined the Rays’ staff as a special assistant and spent four years as the first-base coach and major league field coordinator.

Baldelli told reporters at TwinsFest that he plans to use a modern management style that includes mental health. “I do believe that sometimes you’d rather have a guy in a great frame of mind,” he said.