Impact of Yoan Moncada’s Return on the White Sox Playoff Aspirations After a Long Injury Layoff

The White Sox announced that third baseman Yoan Moncada will be activated for tomorrow’s game against the Angels, as reported by James Fegan of Sox Machine. Moncada has been sidelined since April 9 due to a left adductor strain. Before the injury, he showed signs of a strong start to the 2024 season, hitting .282 with an impressive 122 wRC+ in 11 games.

Moncada’s career has been plagued by injuries, and aside from his standout 2019 season, he has struggled to consistently reach his potential as a former top prospect. Despite these setbacks, Moncada’s return could provide a major boost to the White Sox lineup. Even if he performs as a league-average hitter with solid defense at third base, the 29-year-old would represent a significant upgrade over the current options. Since the trade deadline, Miguel Vargas has filled in at third base, but his performance has been underwhelming, with a .112 batting average, .395 OPS, and four errors in just 27 games. His defensive metrics, including -2 OAA and -2 DRS, further highlight the need for improvement at the position. While the White Sox may still be hopeful for Vargas’ future development, Moncada’s return offers an immediate and substantial improvement.

Although Chicago is no longer in serious playoff contention, the team is still fighting to avoid setting a new modern-day record for losses in a season. For Moncada, this is also an important stretch as he looks to prove his value ahead of free agency. It’s widely expected that the White Sox will decline his $25 million club option for 2025, opting instead for a $5 million buyout. Therefore, Moncada’s performance in these final weeks could have significant implications for his future.

 Around the AL Central:

>> Royals’ Michael Lorenzen: After a strong stretch following the trade deadline (posting a 1.85 ERA in 24 1/3 innings), Michael Lorenzen was sidelined by a left hamstring strain and hasn’t pitched since August 27. Lorenzen made a second rehab appearance last Friday, but Anne Rogers of MLB.com reported that he experienced more soreness than expected afterward. While this may not signify a major setback, it’s unlikely he will rejoin the Royals’ rotation this week. The team will continue to monitor his condition closely.

>>Twins’ Trevor Larnach: Twins outfielder/DH Trevor Larnach is currently playing through a hamstring injury, according to manager Rocco Baldelli (via Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic). Larnach hasn’t played the field since last Tuesday and has been running at less than full speed. Despite the injury, it hasn’t impacted his swing, which is a relief for the Twins, considering his importance to their lineup. Larnach has excelled against right-handed pitching, leading the team with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs in those matchups. The Twins will need to keep an eye on his hamstring to ensure the issue doesn’t worsen as they push for the playoffs.