Back in late April, when the White Sox called him up from Class AAA Charlotte to replace injured Avisail Garcia, Daniel Palka couldn’t possibly have known he’d stick around for the season, let alone that he’d lead all major-league rookies with 27 home runs heading into the final week.
Palka hit a two-run shot Friday off Cubs reliever Dillon Maples in the sixth inning of the Sox’ 10-4 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field.
A natural:
“I didn’t know what to expect [this season],” Palka said. “I just wanted to make sure I made the most of every opportunity I got and made sure I produced enough that the question was there — that maybe I’d have to stay.
“In my mind, I’m not surprised because I’m just confident in what I’m doing.”
Another thing about him:
Palka’s homer was his fourth as a pinch hitter, a Sox single-season record. It also tied him for third for homers in one season by a Sox rookie. The last one to hit 27 was Zeke Bonura in 1934 (but you knew that already).
Palka’s take on rubbing elbows with such greatness?
“I saw that, and I thought it was weird that a guy in the ’30s had the name Zeke,” he said.
Well, he did, Daniel. I know, because my brother Jake talked about him. I heard the name before I could spell it. It stuck.
Blithe Spirit 