We have our first true White Sox injury update of the season.
After an injury-riddled 2022 campaign, the Chicago White Sox have surprisingly remained healthy through the first four weeks of Spring Training. That changed Friday as Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported that first baseman Andrew Vaughn is day-to-day as he deals with soreness.
If my memory serves me correctly, this is the first true "injury update" the White Sox have needed to provide this spring regarding an everyday player. Sure, the Sox announced on Feb. 17 that Garrett Crochet won't be ready to start the season, but that was expected given the typical Tommy John surgery recovery timeline.
As for Andrew Vaughn, he has appeared in 11 Cactus League games to date. In those contests, he is slashing .323/.364/.516 with one double, one triple, two home runs, four RBIs, and two walks. The soon-to-be 25-year-old last played on March 12, going 0-2 as the DH in a 1-1 tie against the Los Angeles Angels.
While soreness isn't a major cause for concern just yet, Vaughn does have a track record of wearing down a bit.
Due to playing corner outfield positions despite being a natural first baseman, the California native has seen dips in production at the ends of his first two MLB seasons. Only playing half a season of minor league ball before joining the White Sox full-time for the 2021 campaign may have something to do with it as well.
Again, it's not time to sound the alarm bells on March 17. But with Andrew Vaughn day-to-day, we have our first true White Sox injury update of the season.
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