CHICAGO -- Zack Collins knows he belongs at the big league level with the White Sox. His opinion really hasn’t changed since Spring Training.

At that time, with Yasmani Grandal and James McCann entrenched behind the plate and Edwin Encarnación in place at designated hitter on a 26-man roster, the left-handed-hitting catcher seemingly was targeted for regular play with Triple-A Charlotte, and he understood the permutations.

Much has changed over the past four months due to the coronavirus pandemic, as the White Sox top pick in the 2016 Draft pointed out during a Summer Camp interview with MLB.com. But Collins’ belief in his fit on the 30-man roster for the start of the 60-game 2020 season has only been strengthened.

“Well considering there’s no Minor League season and the taxi squad isn’t playing games, I kind of fully expect to make the team,” Collins said. “I think that’s going to be the best for my development and the team.

“I’m kind of going into it, working my butt off and doing everything I possibly can to give them no reason to not put me on the team. So, I mean, it could work out in my favor. I do expect it to. And I’m just going to come here every day and work as hard as I can.”

• Notes: Sox scrimmage; parrot flies; '21 slate set

When asked if he would be disappointed not to be part of the active roster on July 24, Collins stated without hesitation, “Yeah, 100 percent.” Collins is speaking from a place of confidence, feeling the best prepared he's been since joining the organization.

Part of that good feeling stems from working with Grandal and McCann in Arizona. Collins took their suggestions on what he termed as a bunch of little things and worked with his dad during the quarantine at a setup near his house in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Honestly, [the quarantine time off] was really good for me,” said Collins, who has also worked with Grandal in the past. “I kind of just went home and took all of everything they said and tried to perfect it.

“I worked a lot on my body; eating right and working out and stuff like that. I used it to my advantage and feel pretty good right now. I’m trying to take what each player does well and trying to put it into my game.”

Collins walked in his first career plate appearance last June 19 at Wrigley Field, then he homered in his first career at-bat two days later at Texas. He finished 2-for-26 with 14 strikeouts during his first big league run, but he hit .233 with a .343 on-base percentage over 18 games following a September callup when he stopped pressing and trying to do everything in one at-bat.

“This year, I have twice the confidence I did in September. I feel like I can compete anywhere at this point,” Collins said. “If I get consistent at-bats at the big league level, I’ll be totally fine, and I can put up some good numbers.

“Obviously from the outside view, it looks like it’s a tough situation with having two All-Stars in front of me. But I’m 25, so I would say I’m still young, and to have two All-Stars to learn from, it’s pretty huge for me. Take everything as they say, and soak it in and put it toward my game, and hopefully one day be in their shoes.”

It’s a little early to figure out the final five or six spots on the White Sox roster with Opening Day still two weeks away. But Collins has put himself in play for more than just a developmental role, even if the playing time doesn’t look plentiful.

“He leaned out. He looks great,” White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing said. “He’s confident in what he’s doing behind the plate and in the batter’s box. He made a lot of adjustments to put himself in a better position from pitch to pitch.

“That goes to having the opportunity to come up here last year in two stints, and being able to build up through Spring Training, and then being able to have that time off to reflect and understand what he needs to do to be successful and help us win. He’s taking great strides.”