White Sox: Yoan Moncada’s progression should not be ignored
By Samiya Green
White Sox 3B Yoan Moncada has significantly improved as a player. Here’s why he should be on the minds of voters for the first-ever All-MLB Team.
Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada has improved significantly and is showing no signs of slowing down. Last season, Moncada was a force at the plate and a threat at third base. His rise in numbers should make him a true candidate to make the very first All-MLB team. With the 2020 season approaching he can reach All-Star status and become the top third baseman in the American League.
Moncada’s sophomore season with the White Sox was not exactly a showstopper. His slash line was .235/.315/.400 with 17 home runs on 136 hits in 2018. He was not a bad player by any means that year, but he did not live up to his true potential. He was also inefficient defensively, but through his failures he later achieved success.
In 2019, Moncada had his breakout season. His numbers skyrocketed with an upgraded batting line of .315/.367/.548 and 25 home runs on 161 hits. His power and accuracy reached new levels, which raised his value on the White Sox and proved his worth to fans. Last season, Moncada dealt with some minor injuries. The White Sox lost 11 of the 21 games he sat out with injury proving his presence is essential to the franchise’s success.
His ability to steal bases can not go under the radar either. Moncada led all of the All-MLB team frontrunners in stolen bases with 10. The important thing that he has over those third basemen is consistency. In 2019, he had several multi-hit games and went on a 14 game hitting streak in the middle of the season. After the All-Star break, his performance at the plate was exceptional with an OPS of .925.
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The Chicago White Sox have a more valuable player at third base than most teams. In comparison to Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, Moncada got better throughout the season and Bryant went on the decline. Post-All-Star break, Bryant had a .829 OPS where before the All-Star break he had a .955 OPS. Moncada’s higher quality of plate vision and determination to score no matter if the White Sox are winning or losing truly showed how important he is to the team. He makes an ideal option for the first All-MLB team.