(670 The Score) When White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez suffered a torn pectoral late in spring training, it seemed to create an opportunity for prized prospect Andrew Vaughn to step into the void.
A first baseman by trade who was penciled in as the team's designated hitter, Vaughn soon began to work in as the White Sox's left fielder. But he hasn't started there consistently in the first 10 games of the regular season. That will again be the case when Chicago hosts Cleveland on Tuesday evening, as veteran Nick Williams, who was recalled by the White Sox last Thursday, is set to start there for the third time in four games in left field.
White Sox super-utility player Leury Garcia started in left field on Opening Day, while Billy Hamilton has also started two games there. Vaughn has played six games in left field, starting five.
Vaughn, 23, will start in left field for the White Sox on Wednesday and Thursday, manager Tony La Russa said. As for his sporadic playing time thus far, Vaughn hasn't been held back because of defensive concerns. La Russa went as far as to call Vaughn an "above-average" defensive player while adding he has a surplus of options to play.
"The way it's supposed to work in the big leagues," La Russa said. "Unless you're a club that's really building for the future, is you earn your spot on the roster and that's what Andrew did -- just like Dylan Cease did and (Carlos) Rodon did and (Michael) Kopech did. And then you earn your at-bats. We're in a situation where (Yermin) Mercedes has taken a lot of the DH at-bats where before that, you would've thought that you could mix and match a little more.
"He's playing (Wednesday) and Thursday. The reason is not (that) we're not trying to develop him. It's because he's ready to help us, and I think he will help us.
"He's on the club because he can help us."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 MLB amateur draft, Vaughn posted a slash line of .279/.375/.459 over 72 plate appearances in spring training. He has started his MLB career 2-for-14 at the plate.
Mercedes has been a breakout star early on, hitting .500 with a 1.337 OPS in 36 plate appearances. He has been the White Sox's designated hitter in eight games this season.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.