CHICAGO -- Tim Anderson’s celebratory bat flip has made its way back to Guaranteed Rate Field.

It was during Sunday’s intrasquad contest when Anderson connected off of teammate Evan Marshall, and following a quick look at the blast’s trajectory, Anderson tossed the bat like a javelin toward the home dugout. He gained notoriety for a celebratory bat flip following a long fourth-inning home run off the Royals’ Brad Keller during a home contest on April 17 last season, only to be hit by a Keller pitch in his next at-bat, leading to both benches emptying.

Anderson also showed off a pronounced bat flip on April 26 following his walk-off drive to left against the Tigers’ Joe Jiménez, once again promoting his campaign of bringing more fun to the game.

Let’s not forget Anderson, 27, topped all of baseball in ’19 with a .335 average, winning the American League batting title. He has hit three home runs over four intrasquad games, including two Sunday, and has squared up pretty much everything.

White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing says the shortstop looks just as good defensively.

“T.A. is absolutely picking up where he left off last year,” McEwing said Sunday during a Zoom call. “He’s hitting balls hard and driving them to all parts of the field on both sides.

“Defensively, his jumps have been amazing getting off the ball. We have been really focusing on keeping his head in there and staying through it and finishing his throws. His jumps have been amazing, and at the plate, there just continues to be a lot of positives.”

Dunning’s triumphant return
If Dane Dunning had been healthy entering the 2019 season, the right-hander could have cracked the White Sox rotation as a fifth starter. Instead, Dunning had Tommy John surgery on March 19 that year, leaving him out of action since a start for Double-A Birmingham on June 23, 2018.

But Dunning’s recovery looks close to complete after throwing three scoreless innings as a starter in Sunday’s intrasquad game. The No. 6 White Sox prospect struck out one, didn’t issue a walk and was the benefactor of Anderson getting doubled off first following a Luis Robert fly ball to right to complete a first-inning double play. Dunning also ended another inning by covering a vacant third base to catch Yasmani Grandal trying to advance.

On the mound, Dunning featured a couple of changeups, employing a new grip shown to him by Grandal.

“It’s the same grip, but where I held it [changed],” said Dunning, 25. “I’m getting a lot more depth from my changeup now, which is crucially essential for a changeup. I want it to start and look like a fastball and fall off. That’s exactly what this does. It feels really comfortable in my hand.”

Dunning also gained 10 to 15 pounds of muscle mass in the time away. He has started exclusively in the Minors, but says he is ready for any role in this 60-game season.

“If I do come as a ’pen guy, I think the only learning curve there would just be getting myself ready to get back in the game because it’s a shorter amount of time,” Dunning said. “But I think I can benefit either way, if it’s coming out of the ’pen or starting. So, whatever it takes to help the team.”

Third to first
• McEwing has been in contact with manager Rick Renteria, who returned to California on Thursday for a family funeral.

“I have talked to him. I checked in,” McEwing said. “I really didn’t want to get in too deep, knowing everything he’s got [going on] and let him focus on what he needs to at home and focus on his family, and that’s first.

“I just told him we are holding down the fort until he gets back. We are excited to have him back, and hopefully he’ll be here in the next couple of days.”

• First baseman Andrew Vaughn, the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, also homered during the intrasquad action. It was his first in four games played and the 10th homer for the White Sox overall.

“He’s a professional. He knows what he wants to do when he gets in the box,” McEwing said of Vaughn. “Nothing is sped up on him.

“The way he’s able to control his body in the batter’s box, he could be on time for 105 [mph] or he could be on time for 85. And it’s impressive to see at such a young age how consistent of approach mentally and physically in the box that he’s able to withstand. He’s a special talent, and we are fortunate that he’s in this organization and can help us for many years to come.”

• Gio González didn’t pitch an inning during Spring Training as he worked his way back from a shoulder issue. So the three innings thrown in the intrasquad game was real progress.

“I promise you it would have been difficult to do that in Spring Training earlier this year,” González said. “Now we're up to date and we're kind of doing what we can. These three innings were huge for me. I think it was a step in the right direction.”

They said it
“We are big guys. Could you imagine one of us running into each other? It’s not going to be fun. I’m telling that to [Luis] Robert all the time.” -- Right fielder Nomar Mazara, on having good outfield communication defensively, especially with Robert, who covers so much ground in center field

“She’s my love. When I’m here at the ballpark, my wife is always sending me pictures and videos and stuff of what Zoe’s doing. I miss her when I’m here, but it’s part of the business. I have to work, and I have to do what I have to do to provide for them. It’s fine, because I know when I get home, I’m going to be with her.” -- Right-hander Reynaldo López, on his daughter, who turns 2 on Monday