Southside Showdown
Fansided

White Sox: Five Potential 2019 Team Most Valuable Player

By Joseph Bermudez

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 05: Players and fans stand during the National Anthem before the Opening Day home game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 05: Players and fans stand during the National Anthem before the Opening Day home game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
White Sox
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 14: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox hits a two run home run in the 1st inning against the Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 14, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

There are about five most likely players in the White Sox organization that could prove to be the team’s 2019 most valuable player.

Given the team is smack-dab in the middle of a rebuild it is easy to overlook the White Sox as contenders.

With that being said, every team has a most valuable player. Not league MVP, but each team has a player that puts his teammates on his back and carries them as far as he can. It may not be very far, but there is a player who stands out over his other 24 teammates.

Most Likely: José Abreu

Out of the five, most likely the White Sox’s 2019 MVP will be first baseman José Abreu. The 32-year-old nicknamed ‘The Cuban Missile’ has proved time and time again to be the team’s best offensive contributor.

With a career offensive WAR of 20.5,  Abreu can easily hit 20 plus home runs and drive in 90 plus runs on a consistent basis.

Abreu’s 2018 may not have gone the way he would have hoped as he only played 128 games. He missed games in August and September due to testicular torsion and was actually hospitalized Sept. 18 because of an ingrown hair infection on his right thigh. Despite this, he earned his second trip to the All-Star game ( first was his rookie season in 2014) and earned his second Silver Slugger award (first was also his rookie season).

Abreu, despite being thrown around in potential trade rumors, can easily be the team’s most impactful provider and seems eager to come back. He will be looking to bring the momentum from his hot spring into the season. In 38 at-bats, he’s recorded a slash of .316/.310/.553 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.

Home/White Sox News