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Five bold Chicago White Sox predictions for the 2022 season

By Mitchell Kaminski

Mar 16, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa (22) looks over his lineup during spring training camp at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa (22) looks over his lineup during spring training camp at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago White Sox, Jose Abreu
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Seven Players Hit 20+ Home Runs

The Chicago White Sox have a lot of players that can hit big-time home runs.

The White Sox had one of the most powerful offenses in the MLB in 2020. They had the third-highest total in MLB, hitting 96 in just 60 games. In 2021, their numbers dropped off a bit. They dropped to 19th in the MLB with 190 home runs as a team. Only two players hit over 20 home runs.

However, a lot of that can be attributed to injuries. This season, with a fully healthy offense, the power surge shall return. Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Vaughn, AJ Pollock and Luis Robert will all hit over 20 bombs.

Jose Abreu led the White Sox with 30 home runs last year. He is the White Sox’s most consistent hitter and he is always in the lineup. Twenty home runs is actually a safe bet for the 2020 AL MVP who has surpassed that total in seven of his eight seasons in the big leagues. The only year he did not was in 2020 when he hit 19 in just 60 games.

Yasmani Grandal was the White Sox’s most prolific power hitter last season. Grandal was second on the team with 23 home runs. He would have had more if he wasn’t bothered by knee issues at the beginning of the season and didn’t have to miss time recovering from a torn left tendon. He has hit 20 plus home runs in five of the last six seasons.

Eloy Jimenez is the White Sox’s most gifted home run hitter. Nobody has more raw power on the White Sox than the Big Baby. Jimenez led all rookies with 31 home runs in 2019. In 2020 he belted 14 in just 55 games.

He only hit 10 last season but once again, he was limited to just 55 games due to injury and had to shake off the rust. He enters this season fully healthy with a lineup full of protection. Jimenez could easily have the most home runs in baseball.

As mentioned earlier, Luis Robert is a potential MVP candidate heading into the 2022 season. La Pantera has sneaky good power. The 23-year-old had 13 last season in just 68 games. He began to find his power stroke near the end of the season. He hit 11 during the final two months of the season.

AJ Pollock has always had solid power. While he isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of a power hitter, the 34-year-old veteran has hit 20 plus three times in his career including last season when 21 off his bat left the yard.

Vaughn managed to hit 15 in his rookie season despite the lack of minor league seasoning. He is a very mature hitter and with an off-season to work on adjusting to major league pitching, he should be in line to do big things in 2022.

Finally, Yoan Moncada has just as much power as anyone in the White Sox lineup. He has only hit 20 or more home runs once. That came in 2019. After two mediocre seasons in the home run department, he is due for another breakout year.

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