(670 The Score) Among the most important themes for the 2019 White Sox is growth for their foundational pieces in place. The early results offered reason for encouragement.
Let's take a look at the good and the bad in the opening week.
THREE UP
1.) Yo-Yo starts up
The talent that White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada possesses isn't questioned. His issue has been evolving into a confident big league player and putting it all together with a consistent performance. In the first three games in Kansas City, Moncada showed signs of evolving.
Moncada went 6-of-13 with a .500 on-base percentage in the series, hitting a homer Saturday and playing a strong third base all weekend. He struck out just twice in 14 plate appearances after leading MLB with 217 strikeouts in 2018, when he posted a 33.4 percent strikeout rate.
With a fine-tuned plate approach, Moncada could have a breakout season. The first series of the year offered reason for optimism.
2.) Eloy breaking in
Rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez admitted that there were heightened emotions in his MLB debut Thursday, in which he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a hit-by-pitch that scored a run. What followed once he settled down Saturday and Sunday was promising.
Jimenez, 22, faced a heavy dose of breaking balls from the Royals pitching staff and worked with what he saw. His first MLB hit came on a slider from Jakob Junis on Saturday, a pitch dropping low and away that he took to right-center field by beating a shift. He then got a second hit later in the game on a 1-1 slider that he ripped to left field.
How Jimenez adjusts to big league pitching could define his rookie year. Handling the heavy dose of breaking pitches is a positive.
3.) Lucas looks good
When White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was asked about the prospects for strong seasons from young starters Carlos Rodon and Reynaldo Lopez, he also included Lucas Giolito's name in the mix. Though Giolito posted a 6.13 ERA in 2018, Hahn still suggested this year would be different.
Giolito, 24, backed up the White Sox's faith in his first start Sunday, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and earning the victory while allowing two earned runs and striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He pitched with excellent command and had better movement on his pitches after making adjustments to his delivery and arm slot in the offseason. Perhaps Giolito can earn his place near the top of the White Sox rotation in 2019.
THREE DOWN
1.) Rookie mistake for Eloy
White Sox manager Rick Renteria indicated that the team wouldn't put the training wheels on Jimenez during his rookie season. He had a learning experience in a costly mistake Saturday.
In the third inning, Royals cleanup hitter Jorge Soler hit a pop fly to shallow left field. It dropped between shortstop Tim Anderson and the left fielder Jimenez, who should've been the aggressor in pursuing the ball. It was part of a three-run third inning for the Royals in their 8-6 win over the White Sox.
Jimenez did appear to learn from the miscue, calling for every ball that came his way the rest of the weekend.
2.) Deeper troubles
Renteria was willing to let his young starters -- Rodon, Lopez and Giolito -- work deeper into games during their first starts of the season, perhaps a trend we will see more of in 2019. It's part of seeking growth, but it didn't go as hoped.
Rodon allowed two hits and two earned runs while hitting a batter in the sixth inning Thursday before leaving with one out in the inning. Lopez had his Saturday end in the fifth inning after allowing an RBI double to Soler. Giolito's otherwise excellent start Sunday ended in the seventh inning, when he allowed an RBI double to Ryan O'Hearn and RBI single to Lucas Duda.
The White Sox will continue to let their young arms battle through innings later in the game. Their hope is to get better results from it.
3.) Yolmer struggles
The White Sox believe Moncada is best suited at third base, and he certainly looked the part this weekend. But that move required switching Yolmer Sanchez to second base, and he scuffled in the opening series.
Sanchez was 1-for-12 at the plate and had a costly error at second base Thursday, a play that appeared to be fairly routine. Once a promising prospect, Sanchez has been near a replacement-level player through much of his career.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
