White Sox Option Andrew Vaughn, Tim Elko in Roster Shake-Up, Leave No First Basemen

The Chicago White Sox made a set of curious roster decisions before Friday's series opener against the Texas Rangers, activating two outfielders from the injured list while optioning both of their first basemen to Triple-A Charlotte.

The White Sox reinstated Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchman from the 10-day injured list after completing rehab assignments with the Charlotte Knights. The return of both veteran outfielders is a welcome sight for a lineup needing an offensive spark.

Benintendi returns from a calf strain that sidelined him earlier this month, his second stint on the IL this season. Tauchman, who re-aggravated a hamstring strain after just 12 plate appearances, is back after a short rehab. 

Now, here's where it gets weird.

The First Base (Non) Dilemma

In the corresponding moves, the Sox optioned both Tim Elko and Andrew Vaughn to Charlotte, leaving zero natural first basemen on the active roster. That's not a typo. The White Sox are fielding a lineup in Major League Baseball without a first baseman.

Elko torched Triple-A pitching with a 1.101 OPS and 10 homers in 31 games with the Knights, and became a fan favorite before his call-up, while Vaughn struggled.

Elko notched five hits, three of which were homers, in 31 MLB at-bats. It is not the consistency one would want, but it is much-needed power for an offense devoid of it.

Then there's Andrew Vaughn, the former third overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, whose fall from grace reached a new low. He'll now look to find his swing in Charlotte after posting a brutal .189 average and 50 OPS+ over nearly two months. Vaughn's defense hasn't helped his case, making him one of the worst players in baseball this year.