Expectations were high for the White Sox going into the 2020 season. After finishing 72-89 in the 2019 season, the boys on the southside couldn’t afford another bad start like 2020. What a difference a rebuild makes! The Sox entered the halfway point in the season tied for first place in the American League Central Division despite significant injuries to key players at the start of the condensed season.
With some key players still on the injured list, that hasn’t stopped the young White Sox maturity and momentum. Coming off a series win against their hometown rival Chicago Cubs recently, the Sox have racked up 28 home runs in that span of 7 games, which is the most home runs in a 7 game span by a team in MLB history. Thanks in part to 7-year veteran Jose Abreu, who smashed 6 homers alone against the Cubs, becoming the first player in franchise history to do so. He currently leads the AL in most home runs with 11. With 40% of their permanent roster still sidelined, the Sox have relied heavily on four key position players: Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert, and Tim Anderson. At just 23 years old, Luis Robert started this season as ESPN’s No. 5 prospect and is in the mix for Rookie of the Year. He has 7 home runs so far this season right behind teammate Eloy Jimenez who currently has 9 dingers.
Chicago White Sox
The shortened season of only 60 games has reached the virtual “all-star” break with 27 games to play. The southside sluggers are in a neck-in-neck battle for first place in the American League Central Division with the Twins and Indians. This feat in and of itself is a remarkable one, given that the starting rotation has not fully returned. Carlos Rodon remains on the extended injured list, while star in the making and young fireball throwing Michael Kopech decided to sit the season out for “personal reasons,” while their second baseman of the future, Nick Madrigal, is started his first game on Saturday, August 29th since going down in early August with a separated shoulder.
The Sox have won 10 of the last 11 games because they are playing defense, they are getting 6+ solid innings from their starting pitchers, and last but certainly not least, they are clobbering the ball all over the field and out of the park. The last 27 games must be played with this same intensity and urgency to win, and if they do, White Sox fans will be treated to the postseason for the first time since 2008, and the southside will rejoice!
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