The Chicago White Sox were swept out of Boston by the Red Sox on Sunday marking the first time that the team had been swept in Boston in a four games series since 1988.
Although the Sox didn’t win, there were several positives from the four game series as some of the players that are being counted on for the White Sox rebuild showed promise.
With the team losing 23-of-27, there’s a silver lining to all of this. The development of young players for the future is something White Sox fans should be keeping an eye on.
Nicky Delmonico, who was called up to replace Willy Garcia, has hit safely in five of the first six games he’s played in. In Boston on Thursday, Delmonico hit his first major league home run off of last year’s American Cy Young winner Rick Porcello driving in three runs and followed it up Friday night with an opposite field two out two run double off the Green Monster.
Furthermore, Delmonico on Sunday showed his awareness at the plate as he bunted for a hit up the third baseline with the Red Sox defense set in a pull shift.
The series in Boston was also an important one for Yoan Moncada who returned to Boston for the first time since being traded by the Red Sox last off season.
Moncada had been struggling at the plate heading into the series but reached base twice in three of the four games.
In the first game, he drew two walks which showed his patience. Friday, Moncada hit two singles one coming from each side of the plate.
Then in the series finale on Sunday, Moncada had two more singles but this time showed his bat control as the second single was hit to the open part of the defensive shift. Moncada was robbed of a possible 3rd hit after an unlucky bounce to the 2nd baseman.
Second-year prospect Tim Anderson, had a much need positive series as he recorded a hit in all four games with a home run and three runs driven in.
Anderson has had his fair share of struggles at the plate this season. But on Saturday he had a hit to all fields including a lead off home run to center field. Anderson needs to stack quality series to bolster his confidence down the stretch.
It isn’t only the Major League prospects who had success this past weekend, as many of the White Sox minor league prospects continued their recent run of success.
Starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has been called up by the White Sox after averaging two runs allowed and seven strike outs for his last 4 starts.
Pitcher Michael Kopech has been lights out in Double A Birmingham as he has only allowed two runs over his last three starts. He’s reached double digit strikeouts in two of the starts as well warranting a possible promotion to Triple A Charlotte soon.
Other Sox minor leaguers who may be in line for a promotion from single A Winston Salem are outfielder Eloy Jimenez who has crushed Single A pitching and catcher Zach Collins who has been impressive defensively behind the plate.
The White Sox have been winless in the month August starting off 0-6 and have put themselves only one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
The losing is not fun, but it is tolerable if the young prospects keep showing signs of improved play towards the end of the season.
With Lopez and possibly Lucas Giolito being called up soon too for the last leg of the season, eyes will soon be on them to see how they deal with and adjust to major league hitting. The more positive performance put together by the prospects, the White Sox dream of a rebuild will become more of a reality moving ahead.
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