White Sox: Hot and Not, Players to Watch For 2018 Season
By Jeff Shirk
Despite the possibility of another losing season for White Sox in 2018, there will be plenty of players fans should watch closely next year.
As a Chicago White Sox fan in the midst of a rebuild, there’s nothing like sitting on the couch with a beer and shooting opinions from the hip. Okay, I’m not sitting on a couch and don’t have a beer – but I’m overcoming the gap by over-compensating with opinions.
You all know about Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, etc. and the host of heralded young players the White Sox have in tow. Are there other gems in the midst not yet on anyone’s radar? Let’s talk about five players that could give more than we might expect and five others not so much.
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Upside Paths:
You know him. He’s the guy who tore it up after being called up on Aug. 1, this after tearing up the Grapefruit league in spring training. Last season’s history-setting call-up saw him reach base safely in 21 of his first 22 games in the majors (are you kidding me?), hit nine homers with a pair of two-homer games even after returning from a wrist injury, and delivered an OPS of .856.
This kid has lightning in his bat and will be getting his first chance to show what he can do over a full season in 2018. All the talk about needing a left-handed power bat? 400-plus at-bats, meet Delmonico.
They guy has been solid since bring drafted by the Sox in 2013. The team needs bullpen talent, and this guy brings 99-mph heat. Yes, 99. He’s just 27 but may be ready to pop and make the team out of spring training as a needed bullpen contributor in 2018. With all the talk of needing a closer, remember that you heard it here that it would not surprise me if Goldberg emerged as the guy.