New White Sox pitcher Derek Holland has a lot of adjustments to make joining just his second team in his ninth year in the majors.
But one thing is proving particularly difficult: learning names.
"I’ve met a few guys like five times already," Holland said. "Each one has said, ‘Derek, we’ve met before.’"
Holland should have plenty of time to learn them.
The 30-year-old left-hander takes up a spot in the rotation after signing a one-year, $6 million deal in the offseason following eight seasons with the Rangers. However, he does not plan to act as if his job is a certainty.
"I know I’ve got a spot, but I never treat it that way," Holland said. "I’ve got to treat it as if no spot is earned yet, and I’ve got to earn it. I have to also earn the respect of the other guys too."
Holland threw his first bullpen session Tuesday at Camelback Ranch and joked about having to line up next to fellow starting lefty Jose Quintana, whom he said is "in midseason form."
After battling injuries the last three seasons, Holland said he feels "awesome" and is eyeing the 200-innings mark, something he has reached only once, in 2013. He said the Sox staff can help him get there after he made just 35 starts in the last three years. He tore cartilage in his left knee in 2014, strained a muscle in his left shoulder in 2015 and had left shoulder inflammation in 2016 that limited him to 107 1/3 innings that season.
Photos as the White Sox arrive at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 14, 2017.
Holland said part of the draw of signing with the Sox was their track record with pitchers and their success keeping them healthy. He said pitching coach Don Cooper laid out a plan to get him on the right path this spring.
"Coop just kept nailing me, talking to me," Holland said. "(He said), ‘There’s some things I want to work on, I know what we can get right. I saw some things.’ … Once he started hammering down on me I was like, ‘All right, we’re going with the White Sox.’ Plus I’m a very sporty person and this is a sports town too."
Holland might have more names to learn, but he knows one important one already. He worked with catcher Geovany Soto while with the Rangers and is happy to work with him again after Soto joined the Sox on a minor-league deal.
"As we came in, I was kind of singing to him, ‘Reunited and it feels so good,’ " Holland said. "We had a blast when we were in Texas together, great personality, goofy guy as well, but a hard worker too."
Did he really sing to him?
"I didn’t really sing-sing," Holland said. "But yeah, I whispered into his ear to let him know I was here. ‘How ya doin?’"
Holland already has flashed a lively personality, showing off his Harry Caray impersonation at SoxFest. He also does Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cleveland from "Family Guy" and Kermit the Frog, though he might not do them for the public all the time.
He doesn’t want his impressions to give the wrong impression to his new team’s fans.
"The thing that gets lost in translation is that people think that’s what I’m really working on when I’m actually here trying to get myself better," Holland said. "I just have a personality. I want to live my life, have fun, enjoy myself and play the game of baseball at the same time. I know how hard I work and what it takes to be out there on the field. But my personality should not dictate that."
ckane@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @ChiTribKane
Caption Derek Holland on earning a spot in the Sox’s rotation
Pitcher Derek Holland might be a 30-year-old veteran, but he’s not taking it for granted that he’s already earned a spot in the White Sox’s rotation.
Pitcher Derek Holland might be a 30-year-old veteran, but he’s not taking it for granted that he’s already earned a spot in the White Sox’s rotation.
Caption Derek Holland on earning a spot in the Sox’s rotation
Pitcher Derek Holland might be a 30-year-old veteran, but he’s not taking it for granted that he’s already earned a spot in the White Sox’s rotation.
Pitcher Derek Holland might be a 30-year-old veteran, but he’s not taking it for granted that he’s already earned a spot in the White Sox’s rotation.
Caption First workout for White Sox at spring training
White Sox pitchers and catchers, with a few position players, work out for spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 14, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitchers and catchers, with a few position players, work out for spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 14, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Lucas Giolito at his first White Sox spring training
Lucas Giolito at his first White Sox spring training on Feb. 14, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Lucas Giolito at his first White Sox spring training on Feb. 14, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Carlos Rodon on a bigger workload this year without Chris Sale
White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon on a bigger workload this year without Chris Sale. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon on a bigger workload this year without Chris Sale. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption David Robertson on trade rumors, offseason knee surgery
White Sox closer David Robertson on trade rumors and offseason knee surgery on Feb. 14, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox closer David Robertson on trade rumors and offseason knee surgery on Feb. 14, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
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