The Chicago White Sox are an awesome baseball team on paper. They are going to do a lot of winning this summer simply because they are better than most of their opponents. They could truly be one of the best teams in the American League and make a run at the World Series. If that is going to happen, they need more than just their stars to show up. Depth is key in the MLB and Adam Engel is the leader of the White Sox depth.
He got his spring training off to a good start on Sunday afternoon when he and the rest of the White Sox took on the Milwaukee Brewers. He got the White Sox exhibition scoring started with a two-run blast early in the ballgame. We know how good he is on defense but his bat has been on fire since the start of last season. A lot of people see him as a backup outfielder on this current team but that really shouldn’t be a lock right now.
We know Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert are going to occupy left and center. Well, they signed Adam Eaton to come back and play right but there is no evidence that says Eaton should open the season in right over Engel. Eaton has certainly had a much more proven career but he was awful in 2020 while Engel was sweet.
Spring training means nothing in the grand scheme of things but it is certainly a good sign when guys storm out of the gate hot. It is even better when it is a player that is coming off a surprisingly awesome offensive year and is trying to keep it going. If this is something that can continue, the White Sox will certainly have a top three lineup even when guys are taking a rest or injured.
Of course, Eaton is probably (right or wrong) going to be the guy who gets the first crack at the everyday right fielder position. It may end up being a platoon or one guy may win the job over time. Regardless of what happens, you can expect to see a good amount of Adam Engel for the White Sox in 2021. This game was a great start.