TEMPE, Ariz. -- It’s been business as usual for Leury García, who has been playing across the field during this first week of Spring Training.

García begins his ninth year in Chicago with the longest purely White Sox service time of anyone on the roster. He’s also ready for the South Siders to take that next step forward after last season’s playoff appearance and loss to the A’s in the AL Wild Card Series.

“Knowing that we are going to have the chance to compete this year and to do good things, that makes you feel excited,” said García through interpreter Billy Russo. “It has been a long process. It was a difficult process.

“But it's part of the process, too. Everybody can see right now the kind of talent that we have, the kinds of guys that we have on the team that's going to make us do better.”

Despite severing a ligament in his left thumb during an Aug. 10 game at Detroit, García was able to return for the 2020 playoffs. He suffered the injury diving headfirst into first trying to beat out an infield hit.

“That's definitely something that you can control, that I try to control, but sometimes, in the heat of the moment, you just react,” García said of his headfirst dive into first. “It's definitely something that I've been working on.

“I'm not planning to do it. But we'll see. I have to be in that position again to see. I know you can control it, but it's not always easy to do it.”

Abreu possible for Tuesday
José Abreu might get his first Cactus League action on Tuesday when the White Sox play host to the Rangers in a game being televised by NBC Sports Chicago. Abreu returned to the team Saturday after remaining away in his hotel in compliance with MLB intake protocols due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Abreu looked good during batting practice and during a Saturday intrasquad game, but added he honestly wasn’t game ready at that point unless the team really needed him. Manager Tony La Russa said Abreu took cage against Aaron Bummer on Monday and was taking ground balls as well.

“Bummer is throwing [and] nobody is going to look good,” La Russa said. “If all goes well, he said before the practice started and [head athletic trainer] James [Kruk] agreed he might be in the lineup tomorrow.”

Anderson draws elite comparison
La Russa has compared Abreu to Albert Pujols, who took part in Monday’s 4-4 tie, in regard to their special ability to make others around them better. On Monday, La Russa compared shortstop Tim Anderson to Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts.

“It’s just their grace, man, their athletic skills,” La Russa said. “They flow and move, they have an athleticism, that’s very special.

“A lot of other great players have skills, but their movements. ... My daughters used to be ballet dancers, and they like dance out there, they’re great to watch. It’s great to watch now in Spring Training. I’m glad Mookie’s in the other league.”

Third to first
• Catcher Yasmani Grandal, who has been out of action since Wednesday after twisting his right knee running in drills, continues to make progress.

“If the Opening Day was two weeks, maybe you think about pushing him a little, but it’s not two weeks from now,” La Russa said. “So we should really get it at a pace to where he’s really 100 percent when he comes back, and he makes progress every day."

• La Russa had positive words for Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet, who both threw live bullpens on Sunday.

“Michael is improving every time out there,” La Russa said. “We’re going to go at the right pace to account for getting back on the mound after being away so long.

“Crochet is in real good shape. He’s had good work here in January when he was rehabbing. Every time I see him, sharper and as impressive as ever.”

• Pujols greeted La Russa on the field prior to Monday’s game at Diablo Stadium with a bear hug taking the manager off the ground. Pujols thrived under La Russa’s leadership from 2001-11 with the Cardinals. He also took time to talk with Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez.

He Said It
“They know they are good, and they should feel that way because they are. Everybody in the league knows they are a team to be reckoned with, not just this year, but for several years. It’s pretty exciting for me as a broadcaster.” -- Len Kasper, the new radio voice of the White Sox, on joining the team at the beginning of what should be a successful on-field run