GLENDALE, Ariz. — Maybe this could have been surmised from the way he mugs and flashes peace signs every time a camera is pointed in his direction, but Eloy Jiménez was a hyper child.



It was enough that his parents, Luis and Adelaida, consulted a psychologist for insight on what to do with their eldest son. They were told to put him into organized sports, where the 9-year-old could burn out all his energy and stop bouncing all over the house. Eventually Eloy was nudged away from basketball, where they didn’t see a clear future, but the strategy worked, and made their mandate that he be home every night by 7:00 p.m. easier to obey.



“The energy is still there but he has slowed down the hype,” Luis Jiménez said through White Sox team interpreter Billy Russo.



Luis did most of the talking after Saturday’s press conference announcing Eloy’s contract extension. His wife and youngest son Enoy could be heard sniffling,...