CHICAGO -- Rick Renteria was having his truck worked on during Thursday’s off-day when the gentleman doing the work at the car dealership informed the White Sox manager of his team taking part in next year’s Field of Dreams contest against the Yankees.

“And I say, 'Really?'” said Renteria with a wry smile, having already known about the game before Thursday’s big announcement. “I think we're as excited as everybody.

“It's a unique experience. Everybody will enjoy it, albeit limited seating. But for the game of baseball, for us the White Sox, for anybody who's involved and watching that, I think it will be a positive thing to be a part of.”

This contest on Aug. 13, 2020 will be considered a regular season White Sox home game, but will be played for the first time ever at the fan-favorite movie location in Iowa. It also will be the first Major League Baseball game ever played in Iowa.

The two teams will have an off-day on the ensuing Friday and then return to Chicago for the final two games of the series. White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert said the phones have been ringing off the hook in the White Sox office since the announcement.

“I think it's very cool,” Reifert said. “And again, it exploded yesterday. It just took it to a completely different level nationally, international level, quite honestly. So, it means a lot.”

“Doing something different, I'm all for it,” White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said. “But I've never seen the movie. I may need to watch it now.”

Anderson had the chance on Friday at the ballpark. The White Sox had a rare 2:10 p.m. CT start against Oakland in order to show Field of Dreams on their big screen following the last out.

Lucas Giolito not only was looking forward to the experience but hoping to start the game in Dyersville, Iowa at the stadium structured near the historic site.

“I’ve been looking around the league the last couple of years at teams going all these different places to play baseball and now we get to do one,” Giolito said. “That’s pretty cool. Get to head out to Iowa and play right in the corn fields.”

Moncada making progress

Third baseman Yoan Moncada, on the injured list retroactive to July 31 with a strained right hamstring, did some infield work prior to Friday’s contest. He also was swinging from both sides of the plate prior to Thursday’s off-day, per Renteria.

“He’s doing better,” Renteria said. “The tightness is starting to dissipate. And obviously you see him out there working. So, he's progressing well. I couldn't give you a timetable, want to make sure he's good and ready.

“But he's doing well. He's much closer. We looked at it as being a possibly two-week, maybe three-week situation.”

Walton venturing into baseball

The Bill Walton broadcast experience will be making its way to Major League Baseball. The basketball legend, Hall-of-Famer and colorful character on basketball broadcasts will be working alongside Jason Benetti on the NBC Sports Chicago broadcast of the White Sox-Angels game next Friday in Anaheim.

This contest on Aug. 16 has a first pitch scheduled for 9:07 p.m. CT. Regular television analyst Steve Stone will be taking off for the weekend series. Benetti and Walton previously worked together at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in November 2018.

“That’s super cool,” said Giolito of Walton moving to the White Sox broadcast booth for one night. “He’s a character. I’ve never met him or anything. Maybe I will get the chance to. He seems super awesome.”

He said it

“I’d say Bull Durham. I was going through the Minor Leagues and I really connected with a lot of the stuff they were talking about in that movie. It was pretty spot on.” -- Giolito on his favorite baseball movie