The addition of Elvis Andrus thwarted any hopes Romy Gonzalez had of winning the starting job at second base. Gonzalez was seen as the favorite in the impending competition and even received rave reviews from general manager Rick Hahn.
“I think there’s been nothing but rage reviews about Romy Gonzalez this offseason from the coaches that have worked with him,” Hahn said during his first media appearance of Spring Training. “They even had a player who went down and came back in my office in the offseason and said, ‘Don’t you dare trade that guy.”
As it turns out, Hahn was mostly blowing smoke. But that doesn’t mean that Gonzalez can’t play a role on the 2023 roster. His versatility has him lined up to become the primary utility infielder. It also makes Jake Burger’s path to earning a roster spot a bit tough as the competition for the final bench spots heats up.
The White Sox will likely carry 13 pitchers. Combining the pitchers with their other nine starters leaves four roster spots up for grabs. One of those spots will go to a backup catcher (likely Seby Zavala). The other points towards Leury Garcia, the White Sox longest tenured played, who is entering the second year of his three-year $16.5 million deal. Garcia is well-liked in the clubhouse, and with how much he is getting paid, it’s hard to see a scenario where the White Sox don’t keep him around. But his spot is not guaranteed.
“I’ve seen Leury play for a while. Leury’s a talented player. I haven’t spoken to him yet,” first-year manager Pedro Grifol said. “But for the most part, everybody’s competing here, other than our main guys this is spring training. I get it. But there is some competition.”
Suppose Garcia gets on the 26-man like many assume he will. In that case, Gavin Sheets, Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez, Hanser Alberto, Victor Reyes, Billy Hamilton, Jake Marisnick, and Erik Gonzalez will duke it for the final two spots.
Hahn now says that Gonzalez will slide into a Ben Zobrist-esque niche role. Last season the 26-year-old saw time at second base, shortstop, third base, and right field. His versatility gives him an edge over the competition.
However, Grifol said nothing has been decided.
“That position’s open, the utility spot. It’s open. There’s a lot of competition in that area. He’s one of the guys that’s in competition,” Grifol said when asked about Romy Gonzalez.
For his MLB career at second base, Gonzalez owns a .979 fielding percentage with two errors in 95 chances. The advanced analytics were kind to the infielder. His speed placed him in the 81st percentile of all MLB players, while his arm strength placed him in the 60th percentile.
He is not a Gold-Glove caliber fielder by any means. His defensive metrics grade out as a replacement-level player. During his brief MLB career, he has an OAA of 1, while his defensive runs saved at second base is -1.
His production at the plate is what could do him in. In his 42 MLB games, he owns a .241/.261/.350 slash line. In 32 games in 2022 he slashed .238/.257/.352 (25-for-105) with seven extra-base hits (including two home runs and a triple) and 11 RBIs. He played 25 games at second base and three at shortstop, with one appearance in right field and two in left field.
But if the reports are accurate and Gonzalez has been as impressive as everyone says, then Garcia making the team is no given. One thing is for sure. The addition of Andrus has shaken things up across White Sox camp.
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