GLENDALE, Ariz. — September presents a trap in the evaluation process, especially when non-contending teams are looking more to the future and shift slightly toward a teaching process than all-out winning.
And winter ball presents its share of agendas, too. Some players try to make up for lost playing time because of injuries or lack of activity during the regular season. Others try to impress a major-league team as a free agent or simply play for country pride.
With no minor-league options remaining, infielder Lenyn Sosa is trying to make the most of what might be his final opportunity with the White Sox. After struggling to cement a spot on the major-league roster in each of the last two seasons, Sosa is making an impressive push with slightly more than two weeks left in spring training, which is another shaky measuring stick.
‘‘I really like Sosa,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘He’s got a little bit of defensive versatility, too. Obviously, I really like the bat. I know he had a good, strong [second] half last year and obviously the winter ball, like you mentioned. But [he has] a really attractive bat that we’ll try to find at-bats for, for sure.’’
One of the Sox’ other options at second base is Chase Meidroth, who was one of four players acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade and gives the Sox a dimension they’ve lacked: a persistent on-base threat.
Meidroth, 23, had a .437 on-base percentage to go with a .293 batting average at Triple-A Worcester last season and has a .425 OBP in 2½ minor-league seasons.
Meidroth started at second base and Sosa played third during the Sox’ 5-2 victory Saturday against the Dodgers before a crowd of 12,289 at Camelback Ranch.
Sosa, 25, singled and scored during a three-run sixth inning and is 7-for-18 (.389) in his last seven games.
That follows a strong September last season in which he batted .374 with four home runs and an .964 OPS. Sosa continued that excellent play by batting .392 with nine homers and 26 RBI for Caracas in the Venezuela Winter League.
‘‘With the experience [of the last two seasons], I feel calmer and confident and can trust the work that I did in the offseason,’’ Sosa said.
A new coaching staff will allow Sosa some wiggle room as Venable continues to look at multiple players at various positions.
Sosa has committed some defensive lapses, including one play on which he wandered into shallow center field on a fly that fell safely between the center fielder and shortstop, enabling the batter to advance to an unoccupied second base.
‘‘I’m super-grateful to get the opportunities to play, regardless of what position it is,’’ Sosa said.
Sosa, however, has power, which is something the Sox lack. He hit a combined 23 homers at two minor-league affiliates in 2022 and 17 in 71 games at Triple-A Charlotte in 2023.
‘‘It’s a huge help and nice to have that in the back, but my focus is still to hit line drives and help the team win,’’ Sosa said.
The Sox haven’t had a player start more than 85 games at second base in the post-COVID era, but Sosa would love to stay with the Sox and not risk going to another team because he has no minor-league options left.
‘‘I’d love to be able to play here for however long I can with the team that gave me my first chance,’’ said Sosa, who signed with the Sox in 2017 out of Venezuela.
‘‘Obviously, this is a business. There are decisions they’re going to make, but I’m going to give them the best and hopefully be able to play for the White Sox as long as I can.’’