In what will be a big season for him financially, Chicago White Sox' infielder Yoan Moncada is headed for the No. 2 spot in the batting order.
Per Vinne Dauber of ALLCHGO.com:
Moncada says he’s feeling good this spring, a good start. Pedro Grifol has him ticketed for the No. 2 spot in the batting order, one typically occupied by one of a team’s top batsmen.
Formerly one of the top prospects in baseball, Moncada hit .260 in 2023 in just 92 games. He battled back problems and only connected on 11 homers with 40 RBI.
He had a great year in 2019, hitting .315 but has slumped every year since then. He hit just .225 in the COVID 2020 year, .263 with 14 homers in 2021, and .212 with 12 homers in 2022.
Now 28, Moncada is in the final guaranteed year of a five-year, $70 million deal. The team has a $25 million club option on him this offseason, so a good year would set him up well to either have that exercised or to head to free agency if the team declines it.
The White Sox finished fourth in the American League Central and appear to be one of the worst teams in the league on paper this season, but if they are going to surprise people, Moncada will have to be a big part of it.
Much like Dylan Cease on the pitching side, perhaps Moncada could parlay a strong start into a midseason trade to a contender as well.
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