Sox doubling down on Danks family
CHICAGO – Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks knew before his younger brother Jordan that Jordan was going to get his first major league call-up.
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesA stellar season in Triple-A earned Jordan Danks a call-up to the big leagues. Informed the news on Wednesday night, John couldn’t resist the urge to tell his brother. It’s something they’ve been talking about for way too long to hold back.
“I had a text message from him,” Jordan said on Thursday. “Luckily, I didn’t see it before I got the news from the coach down there.”
The 25-year-old Jordan, an outfielder, joined his 27-year-old brother in the White Sox’s clubhouse on Thursday, becoming the fourth set of brothers to be on the organization’s modern-day major league roster. Homer and Tex Blankenship (1922-1923), Dick and Hank Allen (1972-1973) and Roberto and Sandy Alomar Jr. (2003-2004) came before the Danks.
Jordan was officially called up Thursday when the White Sox placed outfielder Kosuke Fukudome on the 15-day disabled list.
“We’ve been waiting for it a while now,” said Jordan, who was drafted by the White Sox in 2005 and 2008 (he signed the second time). “It’s so funny we’ve done the same interview a lot for the last three years. Now it’s kind of for real, so it feels good.”
Jordan earned himself his first call-up after hitting .302 with eight home runs, 28 RBIs and a .412 on-base percentage. He has also been touted for his speed and defense.
“I think something people will say, and I’ve heard it before, he’s getting all these shots just because he’s my brother or whatnot,” John said. “Those people haven’t seen him play. He can play. There’s a reason why he’s here.
“I’ll try to help him the best I can. He’s a big boy. He’s been around clubhouses before. He knows how to act, knows how to carry himself. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t know. Hopefully, he can help us win some ball games and all will be well. “
A season ago, all wasn’t well with Jordan. He hit .257 in Triple-A Charlotte last season and his confidence in reaching the majors was shaken.
“There’s always that time in your career, for me it was last year a couple times when you hit rock bottom and you think, ‘Gosh I don’t know,’” Jordan said. “It’s those times when you’re hitting great, and you’re like this is great. All of a sudden it turns off. You’re like what happened. I was just feeling great the last day. Stuff runs through your head a lot. Usually I had no doubt in my mind this day would come eventually.”
Jordan returned to the basics in the offseason, thinking back to what worked for him when he was successful, and he has found results in that approach this season.
“Really just kind of doing anything that’s most comfortable to me,” Jordan said. “Remember everything my swing and everything was in synch and at its best. For me, it was actually like high school. I kind of went back to some of the stuff I was doing in high school before I got to college and the coaches started working with me.”
John was proud of his brother. He knew how much work Jordan put into his game to get to where he is.
“He worked hard,” John said. “We worked out together. I got to see it every day. He’s put a lot of work in. He’s made a lot of improvements in his game. He knew where he needed to work and he did that. He’s had a great season to this point in Charlotte, and we’re just hoping he’ll carry that over in Chicago.”
While some teammates joked with the brothers about both being in the majors, John was certain there wouldn’t be any sort of rookie hazing from him.
“He’s bigger than me,” John said. “He’ll beat me up.”

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