4 White Sox players that can lead off in place of Tim Anderson

Yoan Moncada

The Chicago White Sox needs a lot from Yoan Moncada going into 2022.

The White Sox have made Moncada the leadoff man before so this role would not be strange to him. While Moncada’s power numbers dipped last season, he showcased a keen eye at the plate.

Moncada drew 84 walks. He set a career-high in OBP at .375 and had the third-highest total in the American League. Moncada’s .375 OBP also placed him .050 points above the MLB average.

What makes him an interesting option as a leadoff man is his ability as a switch hitter. Moncada is capable of driving the ball out of the ballpark as well. His 70 home runs in a White Sox uniform are the third-highest total by a switch hitter in franchise history. At the top of the order, he presents a matchup nightmare for opposing pitchers.

Moncada’s best offensive season came in 2019. He gave White Sox fans a glimpse of what he can come if he strings together some more consistent production. That year, he slashed .315/.367/.548.

His 25 home runs and 79 RBIs remain his career highs. He also had the 10th best offensive WAR in the AL with a 5.0 mark. You can’t go wrong with having Moncada at the top of the order.