He had career-high totals in home runs and RBIs last season but Chicago lost 101 games.
After concluding his third big league season, Andrew Vaughn recorded career-high totals in runs scored, doubles, RBIs, home runs, and extra-base hits.
However, the 25-year-old former Cal star’s Chicago White Sox team also dropped 101 games in 2017, so there wasn’t much cause for celebration.
In an interview this offseason for his “White Sox Beat” newsletter, MLB.com writer Scott Merkin quoted Vaughn as saying, “There’s a lot of things to learn that happened last season.” “Observe what transpires throughout a losing season like that; that’s the most important thing.
“Losing is never enjoyable. That is the main feature of this game that I don’t like. It hurts to lose. The most important thing for the upcoming year is to make plans, focus, and play 162 to the best of our abilities.
The season of 2024 is rapidly approaching. On February 14, White Sox pitchers and catchers will report to Arizona for spring training; on February 19, the entire team will gather. The Cubs will be the first team the Sox play in the Cactus League on February 23 in Mesa.
In 2018, Vaughn, a sophomore at Cal who had won the Golden Spikes Award in college baseball, was selected by Chicago with the third overall pick in the draft. Then, in 2021, Vaughn joined the White Sox big league roster, despite the pandemic having severely damaged his minor-league experience.
Vaughn informed Merkin that he intended to improve his strength, speed, and agility during the winter.
Vaughn remarked, “Maybe get that extra step on a ground ball.” Small gestures like that to support the group. That is the main concern. I wish to be more dexterous. I want to defend people as well as I possibly can. I’d like to have the ability to take an extra base.
It’s unclear how much of it could help the White Sox.
There’s not much hope that the team will improve dramatically this year. Draft Kings believes that the White Sox will continue to struggle.
Garion Thorne of the website forecast last week that the White Sox would be dreadful in 2024. “Chicago may not only place last in their division, but they may pose a threat to be the worst team in the entire league.”
The White Sox, who won 93 games and the AL Central crown in 2021—Vaughn’s first season—have seen a sudden and depressing decline. The club had a 22-point deficit before plunging much lower last summer.
In his third season, Vaughn played in 152 games and recorded 30 doubles, 21 home runs, and 80 RBIs. After spending much of his first two seasons in the outfield due to personnel concerns, he was transferred back to first base, where he belonged.
He also hit into 15 double plays and struck out 129 times, which is a career best.
Chris Getz, general manager of the White Sox, is still quite optimistic about Vaughn.
Getz stated, “He’s a guy that you look at — whether it be his surface-level production or his underlying metrics — there’s a lot to like there.” He has a good sense of his zone. He is capable of assembling strong at-bats.
“I say that in the sense of being patient with how pitchers are attacking him and taking advantage of pitches that he can drive in order for him to get back to being the middle of the lineup type hitter that he can be.”
Vaughn admitted to Merkin that while he made progress last season in some areas, he regressed in others.
“I’m still discovering who I am,” he remarked. “Getting to face pitchers again, facing them.” discovering the proper process for writing a scouting report. How I should approach working out in order to maintain my health during the entire season.