GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Through May 9 of last season, Adam Eaton was hitting .191 without an RBI. It was gut-wrenching start that might have set up the White Sox leadoff man for his great finish and, hopefully, the rest of his career.
"I talked to Paul Konerko this offseason, and he said, 'You know, you'll look back at that month of your career and really see it as a stepping stone.' And I truly believe that," Eaton said. "Without that month, I don't think that ... I hope to have a long career.
"But I hope that I can lean back on that month, whatever year it may be when I struggle early on. Hopefully, I can lean back on that and learn from it and maybe get out of it a little earlier."
• White Sox sign Rollins to Minor League deal
Eaton finished with a .287 average and career highs in runs scored (98), home runs (14), RBIs (56) and stolen bases (18). He did it with a sore left shoulder, which was arthroscopically repaired in the offseason and will be ready to go by Opening Day.
"Not normal, no. Definitely not normal, but I'm getting more strength," said Eaton, who is affected more in throwing than hitting with the shoulder. "I'm getting it to where it needs to be."
Garcia set to arrive Tuesday
White Sox position players don't have to be in camp until Tuesday's report date, but almost all of them have officially reported. One noticeable absence was Avisail Garcia, only because the 2015 season shapes up as so important for the right fielder.
He was flying from Florida on Monday, and general manager Rick Hahn has no problem with Garcia arriving on time.
"If a guy is not here when he's asked to be here, that is an issue," Hahn said. "Guys show up early, that's great, but I'm not going to hold it against a guy for following the letter of the invite when he was told to be here on a certain day and that's when he shows up. It's a non-issue for us."
• White Sox confidence high following offseason moves
Garcia did everything that was asked of him in the offseason, in terms of conditioning and even working with hitting coach Todd Steverson on an altered stance in Florida. But now it has to show up in workouts and on the field, as Hahn pointed out.
They said it
"I have a little Canadian fire, I guess you could say, hockey player mentality." -- Brett Lawrie, on his intense playing style.
"We're looking for any way to get better." -- Hahn, when asked if he was looking for another outfielder.
"I'm Canadian, so it comes with the territory." -- Lawrie, on moving to a hockey town like Chicago.