The Chicago White Sox are a team loaded with superstar offensive talent. They have studs like Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Luis Robert, and Yasmani Grandal amongst others. All of those guys have a bit of power which is something that can’t be said about Nick Madrigal. With that said, Madrigal is still becoming an elite hitter in the game today. He is as good of a contact hitter as there is in the game right now.
Nick Madrigal is becoming a star for the Chicago White Sox right before our eyes.
He is never going to hit a bunch of home runs. Even a double is something that you shouldn’t expect. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft because of his ability to make contact. He has developed exactly into what the White Sox thought he would and that is one of the most unique players that they have ever had.
What makes this player extra special for the White Sox is the fact that they use him as a nine-hitter. Most nine-hitters are just the team’s worst hitter that is simply out there for defense. In Madrigal’s case, he is good at both. In fact, he is the best nine-hitter in the MLB right now.
Tim Anderson is one of the luckiest leadoff men in the game because he gets to bat behind him. No nine-hitter in the game right now has the offensive production that Madrigal does. He is currently slashing .308/.361/.776. He also has 8 RBIs, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base. There is little to no power but they have other guys for that part of the game so he doesn’t have to worry about it.
Madrigal’s biggest game of the season came on Saturday night when he singled in Luis Robert for the walk-off win. It gave the White Sox their third win in a row at the time and showed that just a bit of contact can get it done. When Madrigal comes up in clutch situations like that, people should feel good about it.
Another note about Madrigal is his ability to adjust to two strikes. He is starting to hear the nickname “Nicky Two Strikes” because of how he performs down in counts. He hardly ever strikes out because of what he can do in these situations.
His defense was a bit shaky in the 2020 playoffs and it bled into the 2021 season a little bit. Lately, however, he has started to pick it up. He was a Minor League Gold Glove winner so you know he can do it. Now that the confidence is starting to build, he is starting to become a great player both offensively and defensively.