(670 The Score) It hasn’t taken long for infielder Josh Harrison to fit in well with the White Sox, who he recently joined on a one-year deal.
“He has a well-earned reputation as a team player,” manager Tony La Russa said. "The first day or two watching him, you see he has fun, but he never takes an inning off or any practice moments off. He and (shortstop Tim Anderson) have been getting along great together. He is young at heart and has a good body to go along with his intangibles.”
La Russa noted that shortly after the White Sox signed Harrison, he received three unsolicited calls from former teammates of Harrison who praised the addition and explained that the club would love the vibrant attitude that he brings.
Harrison plans to bring the same energy he always has to his new team, and he’s meshing well with Anderson quickly. Harrison projects to get a fair deal of playing time next to Anderson up the middle, as Harrison will play a lot of second base while also providing the versatility to play a few other positions.
“I got to know him a little bit playing against him the last few years,” Harrison said of Anderson. “Beyond what you see on TV, being around him, he brings a lot of energy to the field and consistency as a person. You see him and the others having fun but unapologetically they are about being themselves. Watching Tim play with a chip on his shoulder and playing with an edge, that's what you want from one of the leaders of the team. Hey, when you hit at the top of the lineup and play shortstop, all eyes are on you. He plays up to the pressure and stands tall giving it what he has got.”
Harrison is happy to play wherever the White Sox need him on the diamond. He also has extensive experience at third base and in the outfield and some at shortstop.
“I call being able to play other positions well a gift and a curse,” Harrison said. “In 2014 when I got my first break to play every day, they used me at second, third and the outfield. The reason I was up to it was they were all positions I played in college. So they got my bat in there but knew defensively I would hold my own from the last experience. That is something I worked at and still take pride in letting the coaching staff and manager know that I will be prepared defensively. Teams value that, and the way baseball is played now every team will have one or two guys that are trained to do that. You may not be as good as the regular at that spot, but if you can make the routine plays, you can help the team by matching up favorably to win a ballgame.”
Harrison, 34, hit .279 with eight homers, 60 RBIs and a .741 OPS in 138 games split between Washington and Oakland in 2021. He was an All-Star in 2014 and 2017 and is a career .274 hitter with a .719 OPS.
Harrison had some struggles in 2018 and 2019, but he has bounced back since and is confident in what’s to come.
"I will just say regardless of certain struggles, most everyone knows I am a good ballplayer,” Harrison said. “Those down years that people talk about, that's a part of the sport of baseball. You have your ups and downs, but I had some injuries that limited me. The people in the game have done their homework and know I have abilities to still help teams win. During those years of limitation, I found out what I could play though and what I couldn’t. No excuses is what I say, but here in Chicago I expect to do what I can do and help my team here win.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.