CHICAGO -- Confidence hasn't dipped in Avisail Garcia, despite the White Sox designated hitter entering Friday's series opener against the Rangers with seven hits in 48 at-bats and 16 strikeouts this season.
"This is not picking on him because we have plenty to go around," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "But we expect him to do better and get off the slump he's in right now. He has the potential to do it, and we believe he's going to do that.
"You also understand that there will be some difficult times to go through, of being able to make the adjustments to be able to get through that. ... And then once he's through that you think he's going to be better off for it."
Ventura was asked about giving Garcia time in the Minors to work on his adjusted stance and approach at the plate, adapted during the offseason. But Ventura said the team already did that with Garcia in Spring Training.
"It's a lot easier said than done, when you're seeing different kinds of pitchers and you're seeing Major League pitchers be able to do that," Ventura said. "He's on his way there. It's just we have to be patient with him.
"It has nothing to do with work ethic. He works hard. He's always in here, he's positive. He's just got to be able to get some chances in there when the matchup hopefully lines up for him."
Ventura congratulates 'personal catcher'
After Jake Arrieta's second career no-hitter became the first no-hitter caught by David Ross, Ventura sent a congratulatory text to Ross. It was Ross who caught Ventura's one career inning on the mound with the Dodgers on June 25, 2004, against the Angels.
"We texted back and forth," a smiling Ventura said. "I can't repeat any of it. He's got such a foul mouth. He really does."
During a radio interview Friday on ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Ross credited Ventura for being a great teammate and showing him how to be a veteran presence in a part-time role.
"Well, he created his own path of being able to do that," Ventura said. "There's a lot of things that make him valuable, but you can't just sit there and pinpoint what somebody else will say.
"That guy's going to be the guy, because there's something about his personality that makes him that way and makes that individual special. You can't just automatically grab somebody and make them do it."
White Sox honor Jackie's legacy
The White Sox celebrated Jackie Robinson's legacy Friday, with Andre Loving, the winner of the 2016 Black History Month video essay contest, throwing a ceremonial first pitch. Loving is a student at Percy L. Julian High School, and his winning entry was shown on the video board at U.S. Cellular Field.