White Sox infielder Brooks Baldwin likes to keep his defensive philosophy simple, leaning into his athleticism and making good reads.
“I like to say it’s like a dog playing fetch – if the ball’s up, go get it,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin made his first major-league start in the outfield for the Sox in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Angels.
Baldwin played 26 games in the outfield in the minors and 50 in college. He said he doesn’t prefer playing a corner spot or center field but admitted that “it’s easier to read balls in center because you can see more of the trajectory of the ball.”
It’s to the team’s benefit that Baldwin can handle multiple spots. He played 24 games at second base last season and nine at shortstop.
“He just ends up making plays, it feels like,” manager Will Venable said. You can put him literally anywhere, and he’s a switch hitter. To be able to give guys days, to utilize him in-game to take advantage of his versatility and move him around really opens things up for us. Excited to see how it looks today.”
Eye on Charlotte
The Sox are at the nascent stage of their rebuild, so fans will be attuned to how top prospects perform in the minors. The Sox also have top prospects like Colson Montgomery, Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel, who could matriculate and make appearances in the majors. Second baseman Chase Meidroth, acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade, could also make an appearance this season.
On Friday, Meidroth drew two walks and got a hit, Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Teel hit a solo shot in the fifth. Venable said he wants the guys in the minors to know they’re a part of the organization.
As the job intensifies, he understands it’ll be difficult to keep up with their performances, but he said it’s been a discussion with the team to let the young prospects know how close they are to the majors.
“They’re not far off, and they have the things they need to continue to work on, but we know that they’re gonna be contributing here at some point, and some of them this summer,” Venable said.
Moncada’s revenge
Despite Tim Anderson receiving adoration from Sox fans, they didn’t have the same reverence for former third baseman Yoan Moncada. The 20,602 fans at Rate Field booed Moncada before every at-bat.
Injuries hampered Moncada’s Sox career, not allowing him to consistently show the potential that made him enticing when the team acquired him for ace Chris Sale. Moncada’s best season came in 2019 when he batted .315/.367/.548 with a .915 OPS. He also belted 25 homers that year but was unable to reach those numbers again with the Sox.
Moncada drew ire from Sox fans because he represents the dynasty that wasn’t for the Sox. The White Sox declined Moncada’s $25 million option after another injury-riddled 2024 season. Moncada played in just 12 games after suffering a left adductor strain in April.
After taking the jeers in jest, Moncada struck back with his play, knocking in the lone run in Saturday’s 1-0 Angels win. He had one strikeout and one walk.