Levine: Adam Eaton Aims To Stay Healthy For Full Season

By Bruce Levine-

(CBS) White Sox center fielder and lead-off man Adam Eaton has heard from every corner of the organization on his health issues. Eaton knows he must stay on the field in order to lead his team in games played, runs scored and stolen bases.

The magic that Eaton creates on defense and the basepaths is crucial to the success of this year's pursuit of playoff-caliber baseball after the White Sox had a big offseason. Eaton missed 39 games in 2014 with injuries incurred while risking limb and seemingly life in the outfield. One DL stint was for a hamstring issue, and the other trip came because of an oblique strain.

"In baseball you can practice and perfect to a certain extent all phases of the game except how to not get injured," Eaton said of his frequent injuries. "I can control trying to be smarter on my attempts at catching or cutting off a ball. My game and using speed and instincts, I cannot and could not change. Those are the things that got me here in the first place."

The 26-year-old Eaton is the first real running threat the White Sox have had since Scott Podsednik was running wild on the bases in 2005. That type of offense creates tremendous pressure on the defense and causes mistakes that lead to early run production.

"That is my game to score runs on offense and prevent points on the board on defense," Eaton said. "I love being so totally involved in the game and having people depend on me. I worked with a trainer in the offseason resting and then doing a lot of leg and strength work for 2015."

Eaton will be backed up by Emilio Bonifacio. That will allow manager Robin Ventura some wiggle room in resting Eaton and still having a player who can steal a base and cut balls off in the gap. Eaton working with Melky Cabrera will give the White Sox a one-two combo at the top of the order that can bring a .350-plus on base percentage number to the field.

"We have been talking a lot about set plays for hit-and-runs and straight steals," Eaton said. "We don't need the coaches to put on every play. We can do a lot together at the top of the lineup. We have a chance to have a great club. This should be a great season for our fans to enjoy."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.