WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JANUARY 12, 2016 “Sox see Collins becoming 'very good catcher'” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Don Cooper’s 'Eyes Lit Up' Watching White Sox Prospect ” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Top White Sox Prospect Impresses Club at Minicamp” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “White Sox Outfielder Charlie Tilson Ready to Hit the Ground Running in 2017 After Serious Injury” …Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Rays claim OF Jason Coats, designate RHP Dylan Floro for assignment” … Associated Press “Baffoe: Goodbye, President Superfan” … Tim Baffoe, CBS Chicago

Sox see Collins becoming 'very good catcher' No. 10 pick in '16 Draft cites Pilates for flexibility behind plate By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | January 11th, 2017

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- John Orton didn't know a great deal about Zack Collins when the White Sox selected the left-handed-hitting catcher with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.

So the White Sox Minor League catching coordinator studied some of Collins' work as he played for the in the College World Series. Orton immediately liked what he saw.

"I thought his hands work good, and he blocked the ball pretty well. He doesn't look stiff back there," said Orton, speaking about Collins during this week's hitters' minicamp at Camelback Ranch. "So right away I was pleasantly surprised.

"Everyone talked about his bat, which is his strength. But I think he's going to be a very good catcher. I see no reason why he shouldn't be an above-average Major League catcher someday."

White Sox prospect Zack Collins talks about his focus on improving his skills with batting and as a catcher during the

Collins, who's rated as the club's No. 6 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, was one of the 16 players to take part in the three-day camp from Monday to Wednesday. He had a busy 2016 with the Hurricanes and the White Sox, finishing as part of the taxi squad for the Arizona Fall League's Glendale Desert Dogs.

After hitting .258 with six homers, seven doubles and 18 RBIs for Class A Winston-Salem, Collins had a mere 22 at-bats for Glendale. His focus fell upon catching as many bullpens as possible, further refining his defensive skills.

"An uncountable amount," said Collins with a laugh when asked how many bullpen sessions he went through. "I caught a ton, but it was definitely good for me. I got a lot more comfortable with the older guys that throw harder and had better stuff."

The remainder of the offseason produced a vacation to New York and a cruise to Mexico with his girlfriend and family, so no until his return to Glendale this week. Collins also began doing Pilates, which directly helped him with catching. "My hips feel more flexible. I just feel a lot better and I guess have more endurance and stability throughout my body. I feel good," Collins said. "It's a lot of core strengthening: From your abs to your back muscle and flexibility throughout your hips and your body and stuff like that.

"It keeps people healthy and I guess teaches you how to use every muscle in your body to do stuff that you do. We tend to just use the big muscles, quads and stuff like that, so I guess it's just different. It's not too much resistance, but it's a lot of body weight and you've never felt your body so heavy in your life. It's crazy."

Offense never has been a concern with Collins. He hits the ball to all fields with power potential important at a premium position such as catcher. The question has been whether Collins can stick defensively. But Collins has nothing but confidence in his ability. The White Sox share that feeling.

"He has the perfect demeanor to be an everyday catcher," Orton said. "He seems to pick things up very quick. He's a very smart kid. He researches a lot of things. He's always looking at other big league catchers or guys that do things a certain way and he comes to me with things, which is great.

"I've kind of been trying to just be real simple and hands off, and he's already -- as far as just receiving and the blocking and throwing, the stuff we have worked on -- he's already picked up on a lot. He's already improved a lot in those areas."

Don Cooper’s 'Eyes Lit Up' Watching White Sox Prospect Michael Kopech By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | January 11th, 2017

There are bittersweet emotions because he's no longer 's pitching coach, but Don Cooper is excited about the future of the White Sox.

The team's veteran pitching coach joined the White Sox Talk podcast on Tuesday and said even though he's sad see Sale go, it's hard to overlook the talent the team has received in return. Last month the White Sox traded their five-time All-Star to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for four prospects, including Michael Kopech. The club also added and two other pitching prospects in a trade for .

"When I saw Kopech, my eyes lit up," Cooper said. "Not only is he a big strong son of a gun, the stuff out of his hand is really good, life, energy stuff. He's just untapped talent right now. He's 20 years old. But he's already moved up the scale.

"Delivery-wise it was like, 'Whoa.' Everything I like, he does. ...

"If he stays healthy he has a chance to be a killer."

Cooper also has high hopes for Giolito, baseball's top pitching prospect in 2016, who posted a 6.75 ERA in six big league games last season. He discounted Giolito's struggles as a small sample size and hopes to maximize the pitcher's talent.

"He still has his good stuff," Cooper said. "We've got to mix it up. We need more strikes. We need more consistency."

Cooper also noted that the stuff of Reynaldo Lopez, acquired with Giolito and from Washington for Eaton, caught his eye. Combined with the pitching prospects already in the organization, Cooper thinks the White Sox have a talented farm system.

"Looking around, all of a sudden, combined with the younger pitchers we had in the system already, the injection of these guys that Rick (Hahn) has traded for, it's giving us a stronger, stronger system," Cooper said. "We’re amassing a lot of good talent."

Cooper said Sale is the most talented pitcher he's ever coached and he'll miss their everyday relationship. He described Sale as one of the 10 best pitchers on the planet. But Cooper hasn't been surprised by any moves since the White Sox allowed Mark Buehrle to leave via free agency.

"It's sad that Chris is gone because my individual everyday relationship with him is over as a coach," Cooper said. "But the exciting thing is one of the reasons, the excitement of the guys you get back in return.

"It was mixed. 'Listen man, I'm sad you’re leaving because of that, the relationship. The everyday relationship is no longer there. We're friends.' I know this guy. I've seen every pitch in the big leagues he's thrown.

"When you get to see every pitch and you're with them every single day and that relationship is over, it's sad in some ways. But this has happened before. It happened to Buehrle. If it can happen to Buehrle, it can happen to everybody."

Top White Sox Prospect Yoan Moncada Impresses Club at Minicamp By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | January 12th, 2017

It was a limited look, but Yoan Moncada made a strong first impression on the White Sox this week.

Acquired from the Boston Red Sox last month in the Chris Sale trade, Moncada arrived in Glendale, Ariz., earlier this week with the franchise hopeful he'd offer a glimpse of the skills that earned him the designation as baseball's top prospect.

Moncada didn't disappoint, either, as he had White Sox evaluators excited throughout a three-day hitters camp. Whether it's his physicality, how he carried himself or his baseball IQ, White Sox staffers couldn't have been happier about their first experience with their new prized possession.

"(Moncada) looks like a linebacker, but he moves like a wide receiver," player development director Chris Getz said. "He's got good actions. He's obviously a switch hitter. He's got power. He can hit. He's got a good smile. He seems to be enjoying himself out here, he interacts well with his teammates.

"So far it has been very impressive, and we look forward to seeing more."

Hitting coach Todd Steverson said Moncada, 21, looked every bit the part when he first observed him from across the hall at the team's facility. Steverson spoke to friends in the scouting community and wasn't the least bit surprised when he encountered the 6-foot-2, 205-pound second baseman. Moncada was just as impressive on the field with his skills and effort, Steverson said.

"This is a large specimen right here," Steverson said. "He's put together pretty well.

"On defense it looks like he has some really good hands.

"He got in the box and he hadn't swung for a while. But still, you could tell he had good hands going through the zone, has a nice approach and wants to work real hard."

Moncada's fancy tools have been well publicized since he received a $31.5-million signing bonus from the Red Sox in March 2015.

MLB.com graded Moncada's hit tool at 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale while his base running is 65 and arm is 60. Moncada's power received a 55 grade, and his fielding is 50. Moncada received an overall grade of 65, which suggests he has the ability to be a perennial All-Star and worth 4 Wins Above Replacement, according to fangraphs.com.

But the White Sox weren't just impressed with Moncada's physical ability.

One of manager Rick Renteria's top objectives for the camp was to emphasize fundamentals and what's important to the team. Renteria wanted to identify specific game situations and how players are expected to handle them so they're well prepared for the future. Moncada handled that area well, too.

"Yoan is a very knowledgeable baseball player who has experience on a multitude of levels," amateur scouting director Nick Hostetler said. "In the brief time we had with him this week, he showed a tremendous ability to drive the ball the opposite way as well as drive balls to the gap and out of the ball park from both sides of the plate. That ability will help him handle and any all situations that Ricky asks him to do at the plate. Defensively his hands and feet are very good and will have no problem there. He's a bright hard-working kid that is part of a bright future for the organization."

White Sox Outfielder Charlie Tilson Ready to Hit the Ground Running in 2017 After Serious Injury By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | January 11th, 2017

Charlie Tilson is back in action this week for the White Sox just five months after he needed season- ending surgery to repair a torn left hamstring.

The White Sox rookie outfielder is a participant at the team's hitters minicamp in Glendale, Ariz. alongside top prospect Yoan Moncada and 2016 first-round pick Zack Collins, among others. Tilson's action at the three-day camp at Camelback Ranch is his first since the local-product suffered the significant injury in the middle of his major league debut on Aug. 3 in Detroit. The centerfielder had to be helped off the field after trying to run down a fly ball in the right-center field gap only a few innings after he picked up his first big league hit.

"I can’t complain," Tilson said. "The rehab process has been going good. I'm still working through it. I'm able to pretty much compete and participate in everything, but there's still some barriers I've got to break. So I'm taking it one day at a time. But I'm really confident in the timeline I've got right now and hopefully I can get out here early and make an impact for the team."

The White Sox acquired the speedy Tilson from the St. Louis Cardinals in late July in exchange for left- handed reliever . The team intended to give Tilson a two-month tryout to see if he was worthy of being the club's everyday centerfielder in 2017.

At the time, Tilson was thrilled for the opportunity to start for his favorite childhood team. Though he was initially disappointed by the news, Tilson afforded himself a few days to feel bad before he determined it was time to refocus his efforts. He's hopeful that the strong desire to return the field he displayed during his rehab will have him ready for spring training. The team holds its first full-squad workout on Feb. 18.

"Obviously it was a shame getting injured in that first game, but it's part of the game," Tilson said. "It's the nature of the game and those things happen and my whole focus has been 'How can I work through this and put myself in the best position to help this team out?' I'm taking it in stride and appreciating the opportunity I had for sure. Being able to get out there in Detroit and get my first hit in front of my family, incredible experience. Memories I won't forget.

"I let myself maybe feel bad for myself for a quick moment. But you've got to collect yourself and you've got to get back on your feet.

"After that moment I just decided to put all my energy and focus towards working to get back and I'm in a pretty good spot right now."

Rays claim OF Jason Coats, designate RHP Dylan Floro for assignment Associated Press | January 11th, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have claimed outfielder Jason Coats off waivers from the and designated right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro for assignment.

The team announced the moves Wednesday.

Coats appeared in 28 games with the White Sox last season, batting .200 with one homer and four RBI. Floro made his major league debut for the Rays in 2016, appearing 12 times out of the bullpen while going 0-1 with a 4.20 ERA.

Baffoe: Goodbye, President Superfan By Tim Baffoe / CBS Chicago | January 10th, 2017

It started with knocking on doors and handing out fliers on the South Side in a White Sox cap and probably dad jeans.

“I rise today as a U.S. Senator, as an Illinoisan and as a proud resident of the South Side of Chicago,” Barack Obama said on the Illinois Senate floor in October 2005, “to congratulate the Chicago White Sox for winning the 2005 World Series. As my fellow South Siders know, it has been a long time coming.”

Then he added a customized jersey to the dad jeans, a party foul to purists but very much the mark of an everyman in anyone who loves sports cosplay even if he was running for the highest office in the land. He graduated from Sox Senator to First Fan with the Sox dad coat (and still dad jeans).

There were no famous White Sox fans before President Barack Obama. George Wendt?

Sure, maybe there were famous people who claimed loyalty to the Sox, but they were rarely vocal about it. The Sox cap had been relegated to color coordination on indifferent hip-hop artists. But Obama owned the hell out of his.

In the Chicago Tribune in November 2008:

The image pops up almost daily: President-elect Barack Obama in his White Sox hat.

There he is riding in the back of an SUV. Wearing a Sox hat.

Taking his daughters to school. Wearing a Sox hat.

Heading for his morning workout. Wearing a Sox hat. An old, old Sox hat that he seems reluctant to part with.

Now, as most of the country seems reluctant to part with Obama, Chance the Rapper as Sox fan doesn’t seem weird. What did America think about Bears fans before him? Superfan caricatures.

And then there he was, donning a cap, affirming the stereotype.

The outgoing President of the United States was our famous Chicago sports dork. He mispronounced names like Chris “Sales” and “Cominsky Field” like so many critical Windy City sports radio callers who have beer-farted about Kerry “Woods,” Josh “McGowan” and “Soldiers” Field.

Regardless of partisan leaning, we had in the White House one of us. Not an accomplished lawyer, professor and legislator — oh hell no. We had a dude who put Chicago sports out there no matter how awkward he sounded about it. And that basically ends Tuesday with Obama’s farewell speech to the nation from right here where his political career began and his Zubaz were purchased (I’m guessing).

After three Stanley Cup victories for the Blackhawks during his presidency, they gave him a coveted United Center parking pass, like that one your uncle gots that he lets you borrow if he ain’t using it.

Near the beginning of Obama’s historic presidency, the Hawks ended what was the NHL’s longest championship drought, and the Cubs ended pro sports’ longest drought at its end.

In between, he shot hoops on the reg and made an annual NCAA tournament bracket, all the while being very much a starchy politician and a hero to many good people and a disappointment to other relevant critical thinkers. Still, in the ultimate Chicago loyalist move, Obama righted the wrong of the ’85 Bears never getting their White House appearance rescheduled.

While this president will always be a Chicago meatball, more so now that he has extra time to more fully embrace that persona, he understood during his time in office that sports and politics are intersectional.

“I’m from Chicago,” Obama said last year to the audience at North Carolina A&T when waxing on not being able to achieve goals alone. “When I think about basketball, I’m thinking about Michael Jordan and the Bulls … Detroit kept on pounding us until we finally said, man, we gotta get Pippen in there.”

Two things stand out to me there: 1) A sitting president addressed issues of sports and race and athlete conscientiousness at an HBCU and exemplified necessary conversations that need to occur even in our respites and despite screams to keep politics out of entertainment and 2) Obama used the first person plural when talking about a favorite team, something that rankles a guy like me who refuses to pretend I am part of the squad, no matter how much my screaming in the stands totally influenced that last play call.

But it’s so Barry and Michelle Q. Sportsfan that I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t call 670 The Score at some point in his downtime to complain about Fred Hoiberg not being fiery enough for “our” players. The disdain in his voice is clear with the Pistons reference as he’s momentarily called back to yelling at a Hyde Park TV over no foul called on one of the Bad Boys. He effortlessly lobs from the ’90s-big-head- caricature-T-shirt primal to waxing on the approaches to social justice of Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe.

We now move on as a country into a great unknown — to put it mildly — but what is known is that the White House is losing a piece of us as Chicago sports fans. Obama was the closest in my lifetime to an everyman spilling nachos on himself as he jumps up during a touchdown, to the giddy, starstruck goobers that we all are away from our day jobs.

Still, I bet President Barack Obama references Chicago sports in his farewell Tuesday. It’d be a nod not just to his hometown but a cap tip to us meatball siblings of his.

After all the hope for the nation’s future and time for unity blah blah blah, he’ll change into some dad jeans and groan at highlights of the Bulls losing to the Washington Wizards and consider how his favorite hoops team can swing that Charlotte Bobcats pick for another star.

And he’ll don his Sox cap.