They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But after logging 1,914 games at shortstop, Elvis Andrus will now prepare to receive his first ground balls from the opposite side of the infield when a shift isn’t being implemented. The 34-year-old infielder is embarking on a new challenge of becoming the White Sox starting second baseball. In his 14 years in the league, he has never played an inning at second base.
This season having capable middle infielders carries extra weight. The MLB’s new rules banning the shift require middle infielders to have more range than ever. However, Andrus believes his previous experience venturing over to the right side of the infield due to prominent past shifts has him well-equipped to handle the challenge.
“That really helps me understand more angles,” Andrus said. “It’s more double plays; that’s the play I’m kind of working on and will continue to work on so I can make it a routine for me. That’s the only thing because it’s not in front of me throws. I pretty much have to turn myself. But I don’t think it’s going to be hard.”
Andrus turned nine double plays from the right side of the infield last season. Playing the two-time All-Sar at second is a risk for the White Sox. However, he is still a better option than the assortment of second basemen that were brought in to compete with Romy Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa for the starting job.
While Andrus arrived in Chicago to fill the hole at second base, an underrated element to this signing is far more valuable than any fielding he can provide.
The White Sox lost their most significant locker room leader Jose Abreu. It was a clubhouse last season that was devoid of many prominent voices. When Andrus arrived on the South Side, he quickly established himself as one of those voices. This was one of the main things Rick Hahn highlighted after inking Andrus to a one-year deal.
“What I think many people who weren’t close to the team to the team may well have missed was the impact he had in our clubhouse,” general manager Rick Hahn told reports when discussing the Andrus signing. “He is a tremendous role model for our young players. His work ethic, his professionalism, and the way he plays the game are all great benefits to the club.”
That leadership included fielding ground balls and working on double plays with Romy Gonzalez daily, setting an example with his actions on the field, and being the vocal presence the team lacked.
“Elvis is one of my favorite teammates. I learned a lot from him,” Gonzalez told MLB.com. “Our team definitely got better with him joining us. I couldn’t be more happy.”
This high praise is coming from the player that lost his starting job to Andrus. It speaks dividends to the type of person Andrus is. The White Sox tumultuous clubhouse atmosphere was one of the underlying reasons they drastically underachieved in 2022. Andrus has been around the league long enough to recognize this, and he senses a change is on the horizon.
“I don’t think winning teams have too much to do with talent. Every team has a lot of talent,” Andrus said. “It’s about how we can play as a team, stay together. Everybody pulling the same way instead of each guy trying to do their thing.
“We addressed it already. Pedro, he’s an amazing manager. He’s a really smart coach, and he’ll find a way to get us there, and as soon as we all stay together, the talent will take over, and there is a lot of talent on this team.”
