Chicago White Sox: Predicting the 2020 Opening Day starting lineup

Batting fifth, the designated hitter, number 23, Edwin Encarnacion! When you think about how Yasmani Grandal was the first big domino to fall for the White Sox in free agency, think of Edwin Encarnacion as the last. He was signed by the White Sox and it was announced on Christmas Day. It took a literal Christmas miracle for the White Sox to find a designated hitter that can actually do what they need from that position.

The White Sox haven’t had a very good DH in a really long time. That is going to change here in 2020 with Encarnacion. He is 37 years old but he still has a lot left in the tank. He has hit 30 or more home runs in eight straight seasons going back to 2012 so you might be able to expect anywhere from 10-12 over this 60 game span. It should be a lot of fun having this guy and his pet parrot on the South Side.

A big reason this signing was so great is because of all the young talent that is there around Encarnacion. This is a guy who has been an all-star multiple times and has over 400 home runs in the best baseball league in the world. A guy with an experience like that can really help a young team get where it needs to go as far as development. Some of the young guys having a presence like this might really benefit. It is really good to have him here in the White Sox lineup and the five-spot should be a really good one for him.