White Sox Season Review: Grading the Bench Players

Aug 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera (53), center fielder J.B. Shuck (20), and designated hitter Avisail Garcia (26) celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera (53), center fielder J.B. Shuck (20), and designated hitter Avisail Garcia (26) celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
2 of 6

IF Carlos Sanchez

Sep 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Carlos Sanchez (5) completes a double play to finish the game against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Target Field. The White Sox won 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Carlos Sanchez (5) completes a double play to finish the game against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Target Field. The White Sox won 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Sanchez is the first player we will look at. Sanchez made his debut in 2014, appearing in 28 games and hitting .250. Not bad for his first taste of the bigs. I could be in the minority, but I really like his game. He is a young, exciting player. He also hits from both sides of the plate, which is a bonus for this team. This season, he hit .208 with four home runs and 21 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .236.

To no one’s surprise, he does hit better against right-handed pitching. Against right handers, he hit .223 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. He also had nine doubles and a triple. Against lefties, he hit .167 and had one home run and four RBIs. Obviously he doesn’t hit as well right handed, as he does lefty, but that should be expected.

Sanchez does have some speed, as we saw him come in as a pinch runner in key situations. The things that impresses me the most about him is his glove. He played great defense at 2B and also filled in at 3B and SS. He made some highlight plays at all three positions, and turned some great double plays. At second base, he had a .977 fielding percentage.

Last season, he played in 117 games, all at second base and his fielding percentage was .990. For his career, it’s .988. If anything, he has value as a defender. He can be a guy the team brings in if they need to improve their defense in the infield. Sanchez is an okay hitter and a solid defender. He has a lot of talent and it’s possible he could one day be an every day second baseman. The only concern would his bat.

Grade: B

Schedule