One player at a time: The key to improved White Sox bats

CHICAGO -- The White Sox can point to countless reasons why they find themselves leading the American League Central with two months left to play.

The breakout stars. The resilient bullpen. The clubhouse confidence that has fueled comeback after comeback.

Ryan Fuller thinks it starts with something much simpler.

The White Sox director of hitting doesn't believe in one-size-fits-all instruction. He doesn't want hitters chasing someone else's swing or abandoning what got them to the Major Leagues. Instead, the organization's philosophy has become identifying what each player already does well, helping him solve problems unique to him and giving him ownership of the process.

"It's part of the process. No big deal. Get back to work," Fuller said of the message to players going through inevitable struggles. "The physical adjustments sometimes are easy. The mental part is a little bit harder."

That mindset has become one of the defining characteristics of a White Sox club that entered Thursday's series finale against the Yankees at Rate Field at 56-51 and holding a 1 1/2-game lead in the division.

It's also why the White Sox haven't panicked when young hitters inevitably hit rough patches.

Take Edgar Quero.

The catcher entered Wednesday hitting just .181 before delivering the walk-off single in the 12th inning against the Yankees. Fuller never viewed the struggles as permanent.

"Good feelings, man," Quero said after Wednesday's win. "Starting the season a little slow, coming up in that situation is pretty good for me."

Quero was briefly sent back to Triple-A Charlotte on June 22 before returning with a noticeably different swing on July 21.

"He went down there," Fuller said. "He took it in stride. He knew, 'OK, I need to get my swing in a good spot, my body in a good spot,' and he's done that."

The White Sox have taken that individualized approach across the roster.

For Chase Meidroth, it's protecting the elite contact skills that make the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder successful while helping him become more dangerous on pitches he can drive.

"Chase is a dog," Fuller said. "He's coming to work every single day. He wants to be in the cage. He wants to push the guys.

"He doesn't care what anybody says about his stature. In his head, he's 6-foot-6, 250."

For Munetaka Murakami, the emphasis has been preparing for elite velocity before he ever steps into the batter's box.

"When he trains, he's facing high velocity, high spin, all the machines," Fuller said. "He wants to be challenged. He knows what people have said. Doesn't care at all. He goes to work."

The results speak for themselves. Murakami has become one of baseball's best fastball hitters after entering the season with questions about whether premium velocity would expose him.

Even players already producing continue receiving the same message: Don't lose your strengths while chasing improvements elsewhere.

"All these guys, keeping your strengths, your strengths, while working on the things we should work on," Fuller said.

That balance has helped transform an offense that has become one of baseball's biggest surprises.

The White Sox entered Thursday ranking among the AL’s most improved offensive clubs, with contributors emerging from nearly every corner of the lineup. Some changes have been mechanical. Others have been mental. Fuller believes the latter often proves more important.

"The conversations, making sure guys have really good clarity on what they're trying to do," Fuller said. "There are so many things they could pull from. This is your plan. Focus on this."

Just as importantly, the message stays consistent whether a player is an All-Star or heading back to Triple-A.

"Guys aren't always going to be mentally sharp," Fuller said. "But we've got really good leaders in here that are leading these guys, showing them what it's going to take to win."

After Wednesday night's improbable comeback over the Yankees, that belief looked impossible to miss.

The White Sox have developed a habit of responding instead of unraveling. Fuller sees it in the cages, long before the lights come on.

The confidence that carried them through another dramatic victory wasn't built in the 12th inning.

It has been built through months of trusting the process. And it will continue to be built as the White Sox make a push for the postseason.