White Sox Report Cards: Player grades half-way through
Outfield
The outfield is what has been hit the hardest for the Chicago White Sox this year.
Andrew Vaughn – A
Not a single soul expected Andrew Vaughn to be on the outfield portion of this list before Spring Training started. He was supposed to compete for the full-time spot as the team’s designated hitter before Eloy Jimenez hurt himself. He was then thrust into left field to be his replacement. He has really started to get hot as a hitter which is his main emphasis as a player but he has also played very well in the outfield. He is going to develop into an elite player in short order.
Billy Hamilton – A
Billy Hamilton gets an A for what he brings to the table. He isn’t the best hitter or anything like that but he excels at what he was brought in to do. That is to be very fast on the base pads and play very good defense. When the White Sox use him in the right spot, he seems to always come through. He has been a big part of the team so far this season.
Adam Eaton – D
One of the only disappointments on this team is Adam Eaton. He was very clutch early in the season but the rest of it hasn’t gone his way. His defense in right-field is fine but some of the younger guys have really stepped up and are far more deserving of playing time lately.
Leury Garcia – B
A lot of people were extremely upset that Leury Garcia was getting playing time early in the season and it was somewhat warranted. However, he has been very good lately and deserves credit for his ability to play every position. He is listed as an outfielder because of the injuries this team has had but he might be an even better infielder. If Leury can stay hot, this team will truly have some nice depth going into the second half.
Jake Lamb – C
Jake Lamb, like a few other players, had a bad reputation when they first came on board. He has struggled offensively at times but he has also had some big hits for this team. He is dealing with a minor injury right now but he should be back in a decent amount of time. This C grade seems very fair for a player like Lamb.