Vaughn has been spot-on
Top prospect is making a case for a spot on the Chicago White Sox’s opening-day roster
Andrew Vaughn has been one of the most talked about players at Chicago White Sox camp.
The top prospect in the organization is vying for a spot on the opening-day roster and the open designated hitter slot. But Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, isn’t concerning himself with the conversations.
He’s too busy hitting.
“You just have to go out there every day and play your game, be ready for every pitch, every pitch on defense and go about your business the right way,” Vaughn said Saturday. “You have to go out there and do your thing, work on your craft and be yourself. I have to be me . ... Doing that is going to help in the long run.”
Vaughn, who turns 23 on April 3, is doing everything he can to earn a spot. He is slashing .289/.396/.489 with two home runs and five RBIs in 20 Cactus League games through Tuesday.
“He’s shown everything that the guys, whether they were the front-office execs or the organizational guys in uniform, they all raved about him and now I’m raving about him,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said Saturday. “He’s an advanced hitter for this point in his career. I know he’s never played higher than (Class A). Boy, he takes great at-bats, makes great adjustments. He has a bad at-bat, he’s ready for the next one.
“He’s got all the qualities. He’s still in serious competition for a spot on the team.”
Vaughn combined to slash .278/.384/.449 with 17 doubles, six home runs, 36 RBIs and 33 runs in 55 games between the Arizona Rookie League Sox,
Class A Kannapolis and Class A Winston-Salem in 2019 after being drafted out of Cal.
With no minor-league season because of the pandemic, Vaughn spent 2020 at the team’s alternate training site in Schaumburg.
“The biggest thing (this spring) is getting back on the field after getting the season canceled,” Vaughn said, “getting that routine back down and getting it ready to go and to fire for the season to come.”
Teammate Adam Engel described Vaughn as a “mature” hitter.
“Doesn’t seem like the stage is too big for him,” Engel said Friday. “He seems like he’s very comfortable when it comes to competing, and competing against the best is something he really enjoys doing and he’s ready for.
“That’s exciting. It’s exciting to see that in a young player. He’s impressed everybody. It’s been great to watch him.”
Vaughn has hit to all fields. He homered to left in the eighth inning last Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, and he tripled to right in the fourth Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
La Russa didn’t want to compare Vaughn to any other player but said: “He does things that really good hitters do. He can handle different pitches, he really competes, never throws an at-bat away, uses the whole field and he’s got thump.”
Jim Thome, known for having some “thump” with 612 home runs in his Hall of Fame career, has been one of the people offering advice and coaching. Thome is a special assistant to Sox general manager Rick Hahn.
“He’s a very awesome man and so knowledgeable about the game,” Vaughn said of Thome. “We were working on a drill that
he liked when he was with the Indians. Just the way he goes about it, it lifts you up, gives you that positive energy that is pretty special.”
Thome has given Vaughn tips on how to approach being a designated hitter.
“He says stay warm,” Vaughn said. “Stay ready, got to act like it’s a position.”
Vaughn is eagerly awaiting the challenges.
“I feel comfortable at the plate,” he said. “I’m seeing the ball well, and it’s just a challenge every time you go up there. It’s you versus the pitcher, and you have to try to get your job done.”