SURPRISE, Ariz. -- If not for Yoan Moncada's father, the White Sox switch-hitting second baseman of the future and No. 2 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com solely would be hitting from his natural right side.
"He was the one who insisted I needed to prove I could hit with both hands," said Moncada through interpreter Billy Russo, adding that he started to switch-hit at 10 years of age. "And I did it."
When Moncada hits from the right side, he said that swing is more technical. His left-handed swing is more natural and loose. His splits in 2016 show a .167 hitter from the right side with two homers at Double-A Portland in the Red Sox system and a .305 hitter with nine homers from the left side.
But in 2015, Moncada hit .310 with six homers from the right side and .262 with two homers from the left.
"As a switch-hitter, you are never going to feel comfortable at the same moment hitting lefty or righty," Moncada said. "Some time you feel better as a left-hander or sometimes you feel better as a righty.
"It depends on the moment. It's very difficult to find a specific moment where you can feel good in both hands."
Moncada connected from the left side for a two-run, ninth-inning double on Friday against the Brewers, giving the White Sox a 4-3 victory and reaffirming that his hard work is paying off.

"I've been keeping my same routine and the results are going to be there," Moncada said. "Yesterday was proof of that and you have to keep working hard."
Shields getting his work
James Shields threw a simulated game on the Camelback Ranch backfields against White Sox Minor Leaguers Saturday morning, while Dylan Covey made the start for the White Sox during Texas' 5-1 victory in Surprise. Shields threw 45 of his 64 pitches for strikes over 4 1/3 innings, including one that was hit for a home run by top catching prospect Zack Collins.
As Collins rounded third after the drive, Shields playfully threw a baseball at his feet. Shields also fanned six.
"He's been attacking the zone. He was mixing his pitches," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He was being effective with his offspeed stuff. I saw a couple of innings. He looks very happy with his work and we are too."
Third to first
Franklin Reyes, the 18-year-old who was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the White Sox on July 2, 2015, in the international free-agent period, hit a long home run to center during that same Minor League game featuring Shields. Reyes has been converted from the outfield to first base.