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Elvis Andrus smiled when he heard “April 6, 2009.”
“What do I remember about that day?” Andrus said last week in Pittsburgh. “That was my opening day, man. That was one of the best days of my career, made a dream come true.
“And I remember I got a hit, a double in my first at-bat. It was an unbelievable day and we won that day. It was a pretty special day.”
Andrus reached another milestone during the last Chicago White Sox homestand with his 2,000th career hit on April 5 against the San Francisco Giants.
“There’s a couple things that come to mind when I think about 2,000 hits: You’ve got to be a pretty damn good baseball player and you’ve got to play for a very long time,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s done both. This is his 15th season, and he’s a pretty damn good baseball player.”
The Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday to begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Andrus looks to get going after a 5-for-40 stretch has lowered his average to .146. The Sox look to turn around as well after dropping four of six on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins.
Andrus will have a different role since the last time the Sox were home, moving from second base to shortstop after the Sox placed Tim Anderson on the injured list Tuesday with a sprained left knee.
Days before the switch, Andrus reflected on his road to 2,000 with the Tribune.
April 6, 2009: Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland
Andrus’ first major-league at-bat came against Cliff Lee, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2008.
“I was very nervous and I got to play with him the next year and I was like, ‘What did you think about me?’ He said, ‘I was trying to strike you out, you were a rookie,’” Andrus said with a laugh.
Andrus doubled to right on the fifth pitch of the second-inning at-bat.
“At that moment, no fear, just go and play,” Andrus said. “Everybody told me the same: Don’t change. Go and play, be yourself. I tried to do that the most I could and I was able to have a good first year in the big leagues.”
May 25, 2015: Rangers at Cleveland
Andrus has a career .332 average against Cleveland, his second-best mark against any team.
“Cleveland is a really good place for me to hit,” he said.
It was appropriate that the 1,000th hit of his career came against Cleveland: a two-run double in the third against Ryan Webb.
While Andrus didn’t recall the specific at-bat, he said, “I always feel really comfortable playing there in Cleveland.”
July 23, 2018: Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics
Andrus missed more than two months in 2018 after a pitch fractured his right elbow on April 11.
He was back in mid-June and connected July 23 for a two-run homer to left in the third inning against Brett Anderson for the 1,500th hit of his career.
“That was the year I came back from my broken arm,” Andrus said. “(The hit) was awesome, especially doing it at home. I got the ball back. The fans were really nice.”
The next night, Andrus hit the first grand slam of his career.
“From the first (hit) to the last one, they’ve all been really special,” Andrus said. “I don’t take anything for granted. I know how hard it is to play in the big leagues and to hit in the big leagues, especially nowadays.
“Very grateful for everything I’ve done in my career, and I keep trying to play the longest I can and provide and help the team.”
April 5: White Sox vs. Giants
Andrus was well aware he was approaching No. 2,000.
“Every hit like that, to get to 500, 1,000, I hate when people start putting numbers in my head because that’s when I — not putting pressure, but, ‘OK, I need to get it,’” Andrus said. “Sometimes start rushing instead of keep playing and keep doing your thing.”
Andrus was hitless in 14 at-bats after reaching 1,999 hits. He got to 2,000 with a fifth-inning single to right against Giants starter Logan Webb.
“It was awesome,” Andrus said. “I wish I could have done it in Houston; my whole family was there. But it’s a beautiful thing. Less than 300 players ever in the big leagues (290 according to the Sox). I’m very grateful and super humbled and blessed to be part of that group.”
