White Sox: Andrew Vaughn Pick Sets Projected Future Lineup

With the #3 pick of this year’s draft, the White Sox selected University of California first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

This draft pick is good for the team’s future, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Jake Burger. The White Sox have a few options for first base in the future, including just keeping Jose Abreu there, but this pick gives them clarity about what their future lineup could look like, as Vaughn is almost certain to play first base in the majors.

Vaughn is shorter in stature and has defensive limitations, but the club drafted him for his bat which projects to be very good.

Vaughn projects to bat in the middle of a White Sox lineup that needs to hit more home runs, and he has the power and plate approach to help with that sooner rather than later.

The projected White Sox lineup (est. mid-2020):

Many would consider Charlie Tilson to be a sub-standard option in right field. The fact is the White Sox don’t really have an easy answer there and didn’t spend the money for Bryce Harper to be the easy answer to that question. Given the team’s history, the chance of them offering the $400 million it will take to sign Mookie Betts is basically zero (although they should), so the solution doesn’t appear to be in free agency. They could also try to bring back Avisail Garcia, but for the meantime, the White Sox have a lack of prospects in right field so I am projecting Tilson to be there given that he is already in the majors and producing somewhat, unlike potential replacements.

Outside of right field, the team’s lineup looks laced with All-Star potential.

Nick Madrigal may end up the leadoff hitter, but since he hasn’t proven himself in the majors yet I put him 8th. He has the potential to be much better.

The James McCann fan club shouldn’t be worried about him not being listed because every team needs at least two catchers. He will be one of them.

The Team’s Starting rotation of the future is starting to come together thanks to the emergence of Lucas GIolito.

Starting Rotation of the future

There are some question marks here, but 1-3 are projected to be above-average starters for a long time. The Sox would do well to add a veteran ace to the mix like Trevor Bauer, but keep in mind they have Carlos Rodon and Alec Hansen as options for the future as well.

We will see this version of the White Sox come together by the second half of 2020, and which point they will hopefully finally be good enough to make the playoffs and do damage.

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