White Sox’s Smith Catches A Break

CHICAGO—When the White Sox reported to spring training, they had two new veteran catchers on the roster, Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro. Chicago also had Hector Sanchez in camp, and he, too, had major league experience.

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In retrospect, Kevan Smith’s prospects didn’t look all that bright. A seventh-round pick in 2011 out of Pittsburgh, where he played baseball and also was a quarterback on the football team, Smith appeared ticketed for another full season at Triple-A Charlotte.

His future changed in an instant. After Avila injured his right hamstring running the bases during in an April 23 game against the Rangers, he landed on the disabled list.

Smith came up the following day to back up Navarro.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Smith, 27. “I was drafted in 2011, so hitting every tier on the way up, it’s certainly been an exciting ride. But to get the callup, unfortunately with (the injury to) Alex, I’ll take it any way (it happens). I’m thrilled.”

This year, Smith hit .345/.394/.586 with two home runs in eight games at Charlotte.

“Hector Sanchez and I were going two and two, so those two days off were giving me some time to work on some things in the box with catching,” Smith said. “I was doing a little more in the weight room and just running and conditioning and stuff like that. I feel good, both catching and hitting, and hopefully that continues here.”

Defensively, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Smith threw out five of 11 basestealers this season (46 percent) and is 131-for-421 (31 percent) for his career.

“That was the biggest thing I had to improve on,” Smith said. “When I was first drafted, I kind of had that football mentality. I was a lot bigger. I was a lot stiffer. I had to work on my flexibility (and) different kinds of movements with my hips and knees . . .

“Back from 2011 to now, I think I’ve transformed into a much different player and catcher.”

Unfortunately for Smith, he was injured before his first game and Sanchez was called up.

CHI-LITES

• The White Sox promoted righthanded reliever Brad Goldberg to Charlotte after he allowed one earned run and struck out seven in six innings at Double-A Birmingham, .

• Charlotte activated 36-year-old catcher Vinny Rottino off the disabled list to take Smith’s roster spot.