Chase Meidroth provided instant offense for the White Sox during last year’s City Series, leading off a May 17 game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field with a home run.
And when the Cubs visited Rate Field on July 25, Meidroth led off the bottom of the first with another home run.
Meidroth was looking forward to this year’s edition.
“The record doesn’t mean anything,” Meidroth said before Friday’s game at Rate Field. “We know they’re a good ballclub, we’re a good ballclub. It’s going to be a fun one this weekend.”
The second baseman continues to be a spark, in more ways than one, for the Sox.
In the team’s last series against the Kansas City Royals, he picked the perfect time to extend a recent hitting streak.
Batting with two on and two outs during the fifth inning of a tied game Tuesday at Rate Field, Meidroth connected on a 3-2 slider for a three-run home run.
“I was looking for something out over the plate and I got a good pitch to hit there,” Meidroth said after Tuesday’s game. “(Royals starter Stephen Kolek) threw a hell of a game but left one there for me, and I’m happy I could help the team.”
The home run, which came in a 6-5 victory, pushed Meidroth’s hitting streak to 11. The streak came to an end Wednesday, but Meidroth contributed with a sacrifice fly in the third inning of another 6-5 victory against the Royals. He had two hits and an RBI in Thursday’s 6-2 win.
Meidroth entered Friday’s City Series opener against the Cubs at Rate Field slashing .281/.349/.399 with nine doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, 17 walks and 27 runs in 41 games.
He led the Sox with 43 hits.
“He brings a lot of energy to the group,” manager Will Venable said Tuesday. “He’s a gamer. He wants to be in the middle of everything. He’s one of the young leaders on the team. He’s a vocal leader and goes about his business in a way that really sets the expectation for the group.”
Meidroth pointed to the collective team mindset.
“Every night you kind of look at the box score and it’s someone new every day,” Meidroth said Friday. “Our pitchers keep us in the game every day, our bullpen’s been incredible. Our lineup, it’s a one-through-nine offense. Obviously the guys at the top have been doing an amazing job, (shortstop) Colson (Montgomery), Vargy (third baseman Miguel Vargas) and Mune (first baseman Munetaka Murakami).
“But we’ve got a lot of guys that scrap a lot of at-bats and a lot of different personalities in that lineup that kind of bring a different energy every day.”
That group approach has led the Sox to second place in the American League Central and a 22-21 record coming into Friday.
“It’s competing, energy, competing every single day,” Meidroth said Tuesday. “Not giving away an at-bat, a pitch. It’s what we thrive on in this clubhouse and what we talk about every day, not giving anything away. We’re going to fight for nine innings. It’s a long game and (if) you get down early, go win the later innings.”
He added Friday: “The energy is high, the vibes are high. Everyone loves each other in here. Every day we show up and we’re playing for each other and playing for the guy behind you and in front of you.”
Meidroth has been doing his part, slashing .326/.370/.558 with four doubles, two home runs and five RBIs during the 11-game hitting streak.
Bench coach Walker McKinven said Meidroth had a good offseason, “getting himself into a place physically where he could withstand” a 162-game season.
“He’s in good shape physically,” McKinven said Sunday. “He’s feeling good. He’s primed to play and hold on to his offensive success and his defensive success over the course of six, seven months and not need a blow.
“Last year it felt like he’d go up, get hot and then he’d get a little tired or he’d get banged up, nicked up here or there. He seems to be in a great spot to withstand this entire summer.”
Meidroth is doing it all with one thing in mind.
“Winning’s everything,” Meidroth said Tuesday. “We know what we’re playing for this year, and it’s a lot more than ourselves. It’s about each other, it’s about everyone in here and the city and the organization.
“We’re going to show up every day and fight like it’s our last.”
