Levine: Brett Lawrie Energizes White Sox

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- "He makes coffee nervous."

That probably best describes the energy level that White Sox second baseman Brett Lawrie brings to the ball park every day. In his first year in Chicago, Lawrie has helped bring a new attitude to the South Side this season.

"Brett is almost like a hockey guy," manager Robin Ventura said. "He is very intense. He shows up every day -- same guy. High energy, for sure. He is a different cat. There are a lot of things he can do. He can hit the ball out of the ballpark. He is still figuring it out offensively."

Lawrie welcomed back right-hander Erik Johnson from Triple-A on Thursday. The Pitcher of the Year last season in the International League, Johnson was making his first big league appearance this season.

"Hey bro, welcome back," Lawrie said to Johnson. "Let's go have some fun and kick some butt."

That's the essential Lawrie. He talks about winning and teammates in the same breath.

"It's great," Ventura said. "It's hard to find guys who bring it like he does every day. We have quite a few guys who do it, maybe not to his level of taking care of himself, his teammates."

Lawrie came to Chicago in an offseason trade from Oakland for pitchers Zach Erwin and J.B Wendelken. He was a first-round pick of Milwaukee in the June 2008 amateur draft. Injuries impacted his early development, and he was traded to Toronto and then Oakland without playing a lot of games.

In 2015, Lawrie broke through with 149 games played, by far the most in his career. The White Sox, to their credit, watched this development and pursued him during the Winter Meetings in Nashville.

"I have continued to be myself ever since we all arrived in spring training," Lawrie said. "That is all I got for you. I have never tried to be anyone else or be a leader. I feel like this has always been me."

The 26-year-old Lawrie has had some huge hits and defensive plays during this great start to the season for Chicago.

"I have always kind of had this," Lawrie said about his drive. "I have been kind of an energetic guy. This is me, I have never changed."

Lawrie has played all 29 games for the White Sox this season.

"It's great," Ventura said about his energizer bunny at second base. "We talked about giving him a day off. We have been trying to find a good spot for him. The one time you are thinking to give a day off, he hits a homer and has a great game the night before. You ask a guy like him if he wants a day off, and they get motivated into not getting a day off."

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