Small sample size, but big results.
That’s the encouraging reality for Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada as the club continues its season-opening, six-game homestand with a Saturday matinee against the Seattle Mariners.
Through six games, Moncada is batting .458 with two home runs and 10 RBIs, a hot start that has especially excited the organization on the heels of Moncada’s 2018 campaign, in which he batted .235 and led the majors in strikeouts (217).
“It feels very comfortable,” Moncada said. “All the work that I did in the offseason and even in spring training is paying off. The results have been there.”
One of Chicago’s key returns from the Boston Red Sox in the blockbuster trade involving left-hander Chris Sale in December of 2016, Moncada is exhibiting exactly the power and plate discipline that helped him ascend the prospect ranks.
The 23-year old also has walked three times in the first week of the season against only four strikeouts. His OPS is a robust 1.394.
“He’s been seeing the ball well,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “The kind of contact he’s making when he’s ahead, and even when he has two strikes on him… he’s very focused right now, and he’s having fun. He’s beginning to trust who he is.”
Moncada helped the White Sox to a wild, 10-8 victory in Friday’s series opener, which snapped the Mariners’ four-game winning streak. He went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, smacking a two-run double in the first inning and a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh.
Additionally, Moncada has shown dedication and diligence while transitioning from second base to third base.
“He’s a guy with a tremendous skill set, and another year under his belt has put him in position to settle down a little more,” Renteria said.
The Mariners nearly offset Moncada’s heroics Friday, clubbing four home runs and erasing a 6-1 deficit after two innings. Seattle scored seven straight runs in the middle innings to take an 8-6 lead in the sixth, but the bullpen was unable to hang on.
Seattle has hit 21 home runs through nine games, but also has committed 16 errors, nearly double of any other team in Major League Baseball.
Daniel Vogelbach had one of the Mariners’ homers on Friday, as he looks to get increased at-bats in the club’s logjam at first base and designated hitter.
“You never know when your number is going to be called, and you’ve got to be ready to play every single night,” Vogelbach said. “I’m just glad that I can help this team win, and be on this team, and come to the clubhouse every day and have as much fun as we do.”
Right-hander Mike Leake (1-0, 3.00 ERA) is set to oppose White Sox righty Lucas Giolito (1-0, 2.70 ERA) as the series continues. Leake limited the Red Sox to two runs on seven hits in six innings on March 30, spacing seven strikeouts and two walks.
Giolito is coming off Sunday’s strong outing against the Kansas City Royals. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and scattered two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out eight.