White Sox: 3 Observations from Opening Day Loss to Kansas City

Yoan Moncada at third base

Yoan Moncada moved over to third base at the start of Spring Training and looked much better defensively at the position. After committing 21 errors at second base last season, Moncada had much better results at third base on Opening Day.

Moncada made two solid defensive plays for the Sox on Thursday. One of the plays was a grounder hit to him that he played cleanly and was able to get an out at first base.

The other play was to save a run after Adalberto Mondesi was on third base after hitting a triple. Mondesi was initially called out on a relay throw to third base from Yolmer Sanchez. Replay would later show Moncada didn’t apply the tag on Mondesi after he popped up from sliding into the base.

After a grounder was hit towards Moncada, he alertly threw to catcher James McCann to nab Mondesi at home plate. This was a very good head’s up play by Moncada. He also had a hit on the day and didn’t strikeout.

If Moncada can have results like he did on Thursday, he will very well be one of the Sox most improved players for 2019. Something that is needed for him and this fanbase.

Eloy Jimenez hitless in major league debut

The day Sox fans had been waiting for finally arrived on Thursday when Eloy Jimenez made his major league debut. It would be a lackluster debut for the third overall prospect in MLB, however. Jimenez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts but did reach base after being hit by a pitch.

For Jimenez, he was unable to make adjustments to being seemingly pitched around as Keller kept him off balance with a steady diet of sliders. However, Jimenez would later admit that he anxious in his major league debut for the Sox. This very well could have been the case for the 22-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Rebuplic.

Hitting fifth in the order shouldn’t be a problem for Jimenez as it doesn’t put too much pressure on him. But he will need to calm himself going forward as there will be many more teams that choose to pitch around the talented slugger. Jimenez did get off to a slow start this past Spring Training and hopefully, his performance on Thursday doesn’t become a common occurrence soon.

It’s entirely too early for any Sox fan to panic about Jimenez based off of one major league game. The Sox offense collectively couldn’t do much against Keller on Opening Day and Jimenez shouldn’t get most of the blame for their lack of production. Soon enough, Jimenez will show why so many Sox fans had been anticipating his arrival to the team since last Summer.

Carlos Rodon gets no run support

Carlos Rodon didn’t get much run support on Thursday. Pitching into the sixth inning, Rodon could not escape the inning with the Sox deficit at 1-0. Former Cubs player Jorge Soler would hit a single to extend the Royals lead to 2-0.

Frank Schwindel would then reach on a fielding error by Sanchez that should have resulted in a double play but instead extended the Royals lead to 3-0. Rodon would end his first Opening Day start with 5.1 innings pitched, three earned runs allowed, two walks and six strikeouts. Rodon’s inability to last long in a start plagued him again.

His start wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t ace-like either. If Rodon is ever going to realize his potential as a possible ace, he will need to go deeper into games for the Sox more consistently. Despite the errors made by the Sox, Rodon couldn’t come close to matching the pitching performance from Keller of the Royals.

The Sox will conclude their series with Kansas City this weekend. Reynaldo Lopez will start on Saturday and Lucas Giolito will start on Sunday. With a loss on Opening Day, the Sox will need better performances from their offense and starting pitchers to avoid starting the season well below .500.