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

AJ Pollock

The Chicago White Sox could lead off with their new hitter to start the year.

The newest face of the Chicago White Sox lineup has shown an ability to hit for average throughout his career. Last season the 34-year old hit .297 with 21 home runs.

At times, he looked like the Los Angeles Dodger’s most consistent hitter, which is saying something considering the talent in that lineup. After the All-Star break, he hit .324. Over the past two seasons, Pollock has manufactured an OPS+ of 135 and 37 home runs.

He showed he can lead off an inning with a bang in the NLCS last season. In the second inning of a do-or-die Game 5 for the Dodgers, he sent a Max Fried fastball into deep left field for a home run that gave the Dodgers life.

Pollock probably isn’t cut out to be a long-term leadoff hitter but he can hit for average and has the type of power that can jump-start an offense. One could also argue that the White Sox don’t have many other guys cut out to be a leadoff hitter.

Leury Garcia spent some time there in 2019 but Pollock is a much better hitter and there is no guarantee Garcia will even get the Opening Day start. They need Tim Anderson badly and should be so happy that it is only two games.