The day after infielder Yoan Moncada tripled, doubled and homered in his first three at-bats, he took some ribbing from White Sox teammates for falling short of the cycle.
When Moncada strolled past Ken Williams the next day, the Sox team president jokingly hassled him.
Moncada grinned and replied, "Next time."
Wait, Moncada speaks English? During interviews with the media, the native Cuban uses team translator Billy Russo, a former sportswriter from Venezuela.
"Yoan and I can have a conversation in English," Williams said. "At the end of last year, I told him, 'I want you do to interviews in English.'
"He said, 'Next year, next year.'
"During spring training, I see he's doing an interview with the interpreter. I say, 'I know you're trying to keep Billy employed, but we have plenty of other guys who still need him after he lets you go.' "
Williams said he wants players such as Moncada to speak English "so the fans can relate to them to a greater degree."
"Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada have a lot to offer," Williams said. "(Top prospect) Eloy Jimenez comes with all the personality in the world, and he speaks English very well. Yolmer Sanchez is a great example of someone who is the life of the party in English or Spanish. It can serve as a team-bonding thing as well."
Language can be a barrier between teammates. Major League Baseball estimates 30 percent of its players come from outside the U.S., mainly the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba.
The Sox's 25-man roster features four Venezuelans, four Dominicans, two Cubans and Mexican-born closer Joakim Soria. Venezuelan Avisail Garcia and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, a native of Mexico who grew up in California, are on the DL.
All parties paint a picture of unity, in part because of bilingual manager Rick Renteria.
"That separation doesn't exist here because of that man right there," Williams said, motioning toward Renteria.
The players also relish the chance to learn from one another.
"I ask Sanchez all the time to speak to me in Spanish, whether it's just conversations or while we're playing cards," pitcher James Shields said. "We all love each other in this clubhouse, and we're all buddies at the end of the day."
Latino players actually gave Shields the nickname that adorned his Sox jersey for MLB's Players Weekend in August.
It read "JUEGO G," short for "Juego Grande," an ode to "Big Game" James.
No Sox player links the Americans and Latinos better than the Venzuelan-born Sanchez, who began a recent interview with, "What's up, my friend?"
Asked how knowing English can help Latino players come out of their shell, the infielder shot back, "Yeah, so I can talk (trash) to the other guys."
Sanchez began playing stateside in 2011, and his motivation to learn English was simple.
"I like to eat, and it was difficult to order food," he said. "Also to communicate with teammates or when a coach tries to teach me something. My English is not perfect, but I learn a little more every day."
Sanchez doesn't always use the right verb tense, but no one minds.
Over the weekend when Tim Anderson was being criticized by the Royals for hollering after hitting a home run, Sanchez said: "He just tries to enjoy the moment. He doesn't try to be ..."
He looked at Russo, who helped him with the word "disrespectful."
"He doesn't try to be disrespectful to anyone," Sanchez said.
That moment epitomizes what Williams tells players such as Moncada: "They can be conversational with us, but they're concerned that if they're asked a technical baseball question ...
"I said: Even if you're on camera and you're asked that question, you can turn to the interpreter and say, 'I don't understand,' and he can fill in the blanks. People will not judge you. They will see you trying, and that will be appreciated."
The issue came up over the weekend with Willson Contreras, the Cubs' Venezuelan-born catcher. He began using an interpreter for the first time since reaching the majors in 2016 because he believed he was misinterpreted last week while talking about Yu Darvish and whether the pitcher got "too comfortable" after recording two outs in the fifth inning.
Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa did interviews in English until he testified before Congress about steroids in 2005.
Sosa's English was choppy. He used a few cute phrases, like the upbeat, "I hope to keep it continue."
Other times he mixed up common expressions. Asked why he deserved a salary of $18 million when blue-collar workers might make $50,000, he replied, "If they had my shoe, they would want the same, maybe worse."
Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana and former shortstop Starlin Castro, now with the Marlins, started with interpreters. Castro dropped his after one season, and Quintana now conducts interviews in English.
Moncada, 22, began learning English in 2015 after signing with the Red Sox. He has used the Rosetta Stone app to learn but is not taking classes.
"He knows (English)," Sanchez said. "He's just shy. He knows a lot."
Said Russo: "He's able to have a small talk if you keep it simple. He's aware of the importance to be able to communicate in English. He's young — and when you are young, it's easier to absorb the language."
Asked when he will begin responding to reporters' questions in English, Moncada declined to set a date, saying through Russo, "Probably in two years or so."
Until then, Williams pledges to stay on his case.
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