If Just For One Day

It seems like the White Sox have a thousand outfielders, which is to say they don’t have three solid regulars. Sam Antonacci has come out of nowhere—or the infield—to stake his claim to left, where he’s made himself at home while batting .280 with thirteen runs scored and a .382 OBP. After Antonacci, though, it’s dicey. Austin Hays was signed to play left, but Antonacci’s out there because Hays can’t stay healthy. Luisangel Acuna played himself out of center field because he can’t hit, and Tristan Peters, his replacement, can’t hit for power. Right field belonged to Everson Pereira, but he can’t stay healthy, either. That led to a chance for Jarred Kelenic, who pretty much hits like a dead man walking. At some point in the season, Braden Montgomery will get called up from Charlotte, and somebody not named Antonacci will have to go. It could even be Derek Hill, who pinch-hit a homerun in the bottom of the eighth last night to put the White Sox ahead and proved to be the deciding run in a 6-5 Sox win over the Royals. Wait, there’s more. Hill went in to play right field for Kelenic in the ninth inning and proceeded to rob Bobby Witt Jr. of extra bases with a diving-to-the-line catch for the first out. Then, in a postgame interview, Hill came off as humble and articulate, as well as the consummate teammate; if praise were money, Hill was making everyone in a Sox uniform rich. The 30-year old journeyman, now on his sixth team, was a hero, if just for one day. And, who knows, maybe a little longer.