White Sox Players With Hidden Value from 2017 Season

Which White Sox players had the most hidden value on the team for the 2017 season? Some of these players could return in 2018 on the South Side.

Since the 2017 season has come to a close, it is time to look at Chicago White Sox players who had hidden value. This may be a touch harder to evaluate than it seems, especially when so many of their players were dealt away over the summer. One aspect to keep in mind is that Magnum Start Value will not be involved in any of the analysis, which will add to the difficulty of scrutinizing those studied.

Before we delve into the analysis, there is one thing to keep in mind. When a team such as the Sox has so little talent, it is easy to find a litany of interesting statistics but not so much players who provided actual value. Here are the players that make the most sense for this category of evaluation.

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Kevan Smith– reverse splits at the plate

For a sport that relies so much on statistics, the Sox backstop had some in the batting average category that did not look ideal. Smith struggled versus lefties (he bats right-handed), as he churned out a .234 average with two home runs. On the flip side, he was significantly more successful when facing righties. Smith nearly hit .310 (.309), not to mention punched out an additional 51 hits (he did have 54 extra at bats-165 to 111).

David Holmberg– versatility on the mound

Given that Holmberg is far from a pitcher that will stick in the big leagues for an extended period of time, he gave the Sox what they wanted in 2017. A hurler that could provide innings as a starter and reliever. Holmberg made seven starts for the South Siders to go along with 30 relief appearances, and did so in a serviceable fashion. The lefty finished the season with an ERA under five (4.68), not to mention a win in both roles. Anytime a club can find a pitcher who will take the ball when he is asked, you have to be happy which is what Holmberg did.

Nicky Delmonico– the ability to get on base

Even though Delmonico didn’t play in a major league game until Aug. 1, he still made his mark on the Sox. Delmonico’s average was sky high through the first month (.307), however things changed come September. One thing that did not was his ability to reach base. While Delmonico only hit .212 in the season’s final month, his on-base percentage still exceeded .300 (.307 in September) which showed that he was able to get to first regardless of his batting average. That is a .095 difference between OBP and batting average, something that should be respected when evaluating a players’ statistics.

Overall, these are just three of many hidden values in Sox players. Delmonico’s may have been a bit more obvious, but his struggles down the stretch could have altered that skill in a heartbeat if he did not posses it. While Smith’s future with the Sox is uncertain due to Zack Collins (#6 ranked catcher by MLB.com prospect watch), Holmberg provided a service in 2017 that the club should be thankful for.

Next: Should White Sox Target Carlos Gonzalez in Free Agency?

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