While White Sox first-round draft selection Andrew Vaughn will get acclimated to minor league baseball, he’s additionally listening to the up and coming prospects he hopes to play with in the future on the South Side.
“Luis Robert getting called up to AAA, hitting two homers in his first game, that’s a really good sign,” Vaughn stated by telephone from Kannapolis this week.
If Robert is watching what Vaughn is doing, he’ll know that he’s batting .288/.415/.442 with a homer and 5 doubles in his first 14 video games at low Class A Kannapolis with a homer and walk-off single, and that in three ‘get your feet wet’ video games within the Arizona League earlier than that, Vaughn received went 9-for-15 with a house run, two doubles and 4 RBI.
Vaughn, the third total choose within the draft, might be two years away from Chicago. First baseman Jose Abreu’s contract is up after the season. And ought to the Sox signal the 32-year-old three-time All-Star to a two-or three 12 months extension, the timing is likely to be good for Vaughn to be the inheritor obvious at first base.
“That would be beautiful,” Vaughn stated. “I just want to do anything I can to get there and help the team win. Talking with [Sox scouting director] Nick Hostetler, it’s a rebuilding period with the Sox. I just hope I can be part of that.”
The Sox are relying on that. Vaughn was the primary main first baseman since Eric Hosmer in 2008 and the primary right-handed hitting first baseman since Dave McCarty in 1991 taken within the prime 5.
He is aware of he’s not a can’t miss, although. Only this week, the Sox despatched catcher Zack Collins, taken 10th total in 2016, again to Charlotte after he went 2-for-26 his first time up.
“The biggest thing is, it’s just a game of adjustments,” Vaughn stated. “You have to get used to every level you get to and go out and work every day. Nothing is guaranteed.”
The 6-foot, 200-pound Vaughn is on the brief aspect for a primary baseman, however expertise evaluators rave about Vaughn’s bat velocity, palms and really feel for the barrel of the bat. Vaughn says he retains it easy, relying extra on really feel than breaking down video and swing mechanics.
“I mean, it really is see ball, hit ball,” he stated. “I don’t really want to think too much at the plate because if I do I’ll get out of whack. The biggest thing is stay balanced, see the ball well and drive it. Put a good charge into it.”