Viciedo trying to stay patient at the plate

CHICAGO -- Patience has been a much needed virtue for Dayan Viciedo through the first nine games of the 2014 season. Or maybe selectivity is the better word.

The free-swinging outfielder has been working with White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson since Spring Training on swinging at strikes and not expanding his zone. Viciedo drew three walks in his first seven games, after not drawing his third walk until May 12 of last season.

"That's the plan, to work on that, a lot of strike-zone discipline," said Viciedo through translator and White Sox manager of cultural development Lino Diaz. "But more important than that is staying more consistent with the plan and staying with your routine every day.

"We'll do our best to stay with that, and it's very important to have a lot of confidence in myself. So far it hasn't been that difficult, so we just have to stay disciplined with it."

Viciedo had a bit of a setback Wednesday in Colorado, with three strikeouts in four at-bats. But overall the results have been positive.

"I call it Viejo Viciedo, which is old Viciedo. It's kind of a joke we have going," said a smiling Steverson of Viciedo's Wednesday effort. "But he has made a really conscious effort since Spring Training up until this point to really be able to zone up what he can do and use his abilities to his fullest."