Adam Eaton’s value on defense adding up for White Sox

3:18 PM ET

CHICAGO — There’s a first-place Windy City team with a new right fielder whose premium-grade defense is generating nightly highlights. And something he said last year to a divisional rival started a bit of a ruckus.

You know who I’m talking about, of course, it’s Jason … scratch that, it’s Adam Eaton. Of the first-place Chicago White Sox, not that other really good guy on that other really good team in Chicago.

Whereas some fans chucked Eaton onto the “he’s a fourth outfielder!” pile after the White Sox signed Austin Jackson to play center this spring, it’s been a revelation, what he’s been able to do since he sidled over to right field. In April, he generated 13 Defensive Runs Saved, started a first-time-ever 9-3-2-6-2-5 triple play, heck, just on Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox he made another incredible catch going back toward the wall to rob Jackie Bradley Jr. of extra bases in the third inning. Those kinds of exploits are why he was awarded Defensive Player of the Month by ESPN Stats & Info, in part because he’s snagging 75 percent of the balls in play hit in his area, and also because of the value he’s generated with his arm from right field.

It’s a huge step forward for a guy who played through a bum shoulder he reinjured repeatedly in 2015 before having offseason surgery, and also struggled in center field making adjustments to what his coaching staff was asking him to do in terms of his positioning. The Sox, already recognizing that Eaton’s exceptional going back on balls, wanted him to play a shallower center field, and last year on top …

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