Cal Baseball: Andrew Vaughn Seeking Progress, But Can He Save the White Sox?

The 2024 season is right around the corner. White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Arizona on Feb. 14, with the full squad assembling on Feb. 19. The Sox begin Cactus League games Feb. 23, opening vs. the Cubs at Mesa.

College baseball’s Golden Spikes Award winner as a Cal sophomore in 2018, Vaughn was drafted by Chicago with the No. 3 overall pick a year later. Then, despite his minor-league experience being dramatically disrupted by the pandemic, Vaughn made the White Sox big league roster in 2021.

Vaughn told Merkin his offseason plans included becoming stronger, faster, more agile.

“Maybe get that extra step on a ground ball,” Vaughn said. “Little things like that to help the team. That’s the biggest thing. I want to be more agile. I want to be the best defender I can (be). I want to be able to take that extra base.”

How much any of that could boost the White Sox is up for grabs.

There is minimal optimism the club will be significantly better this season. Draft Kings is betting on the White Sox struggling even more.

“The White Sox are going to be absolutely terrible in 2024,” the website’s Garion Thorne predicted last week. “Chicago might not just finish dead-last in their division, they might threaten to be the worst club in the whole league.”

It’s been a sharp and disappointing slide for the White Sox, who won 93 games and the AL Central title in 2021, Vaughn’s rookie campaign. The team was 81-81 in ’22 before skidding even deeper last summer.

Vaughn did a lot of good things in his third season, including 30 doubles, 21 homers, 80 RBIs while playing in 152 games. He was moved back to his natural position at first base after being forced by personnel issues to spent a lot of time in the outfield his first two seasons.

He also struck out a career-high 129 times and hit into 15 double plays.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz continues to have high hopes for Vaughn.

“He’s a guy that you look at — whether it be his underlying metrics or just his surface-level production — there’s a lot to like there,” Getz said. “He's got pretty strong zone awareness. He has the ability to put together quality at-bats.

“He has to get back to being the middle of the lineup type hitter that he can be, and I say that in the sense of being patient with how pitchers are attacking him and taking advantage of pitches that he can drive.”

Vaughn told Merkin he improved in some areas last season, took a step back in others.

“I’m still learning about myself,” he said. “Facing pitchers, getting to face them again. Learning how I need to go about a scouting report. How I need to go about being in the weight room to stay healthy for the whole season.

“I saw progress from Year 1 to Year 2 and Year 2 to Year 3. Now I want to see more progress for me personally.”