According to multiple reports the White Sox have recalled Lenyn Sosa from Triple-A Charlotte. The move comes right after Yoan Moncada was listed as day-to-day with back soreness, and Tim Anderson had to leave Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins early due to left knee soreness. Is this a sign that one of those injuries warrants an IL stint?
Moncada was having back issues this spring. His recent day-to-day listing comes after a recent flare-up. Meanwhile, Anderson got clipped during a run down by Twins right fielder Matt Wallner in the bottom of the fourth inning. He finished out the inning but eventually exited in the sixth inning to be evaluated.
Pedro Grifol told reporters that he is “optimistic” about Anderson after the game, but the fact that the team called up Sosa says otherwise. The White Sox started the season with infield depth, choosing to take Romy Gonzalez and Hanser Alberto over a true fourth outfielder. But Eloy Jimenez’s recent injury meant that Jake Burger had to get called to play DH. If Moncada is out, Alberto will e to third base, and if Anderson is out, Gonzalez figures to play shortstop or second base.
Sosa is suddenly the new backup infielder as the White Sox resources are thinning. Luckily the 23-year-old infielder is playing with a ton of confidence at the moment.
He started the Triple-A season white hot, slashing .448/.556/.828 with two home runs, eight RBIs, and more walks than strikeouts. The White Sox are very high on Sosa’s potential. He entered Spring Training with a chance to compete for the starting job at second base before the team signed Elvis Andrus. He is currently listed as the eighth-ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system.
The White Sox signed him as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela for $325,000. Since then, he has shot through their minor league system.
He quickly rose through the ranks, making him one of the youngest players in his leagues. By the age of 21, he was promoted to Double-A. In 33 games in Birmingham in 2021, he posted a .522 OPS. Sosa was undeterred by his early struggles. He put together a solid showing in Spring Training but was left off the 40-man roster at the start of the 2022 season. Since then, he quietly flew under the radar.
In his first 257 at-bats in Double-A, he hit .331 with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, and posted a .933 OPS. These numbers were enough to grab the attention of the front office, who called him up once news broke that Danny Mendick was lost for the season.
Sosa struggled during his small sample size in the show. In 35 at-bats, he had just four hits with one home run and one RBI. His final slash line was .114/.139/.368. Because of his limited opportunities, it is hard to write off Sosa just yet.
Scouts say that Sosa owns some of the best hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills in the White Sox system. His 6’0 foot 185 pound frame gives him more power than most middle infielders. He has the potential to hit 15-20 home runs in the MLB.
Sosa didn’t swing at many bad pitches in the minor leagues and hit the ball hard. He does not get himself out by making weak contact, but traditionally he does not walk much. The seven walks he has drawn in nine games this season is a positive sign.
Despite having a strong arm, his range isn’t great. The majority of his games in the minor leagues have been spent at shortstop. In five seasons, he amassed 42 errors and a .969 fielding percentage. His reliable hands and solid arm strength will make him a serviceable second baseman, but he figures to be more of a platoon player while he is up in the MLB.
end Romy down. While I believe there is still hope for Romy, he will compete against Sosa and Burger for one of the last roster spots once everyone returns.
While it seems like this team is too injury-prone to ever get rid of any of these players, there is a chance once a fully healthy roster including Hendriks, Crochet, TA, and Eloy that none of these players are on the team. It is still early, but with more competition coming up because of injury, they are fighting for a spot once everyone returns.
Romy down. While I believe there is still hope for Romy, he will compete against Sosa and Burger for one of the last roster spots once everyone returns.
While it seems like this team is too injury-prone to ever get rid of any of these players, there is a chance once a fully healthy roster including Hendriks, Crochet, TA, and Eloy that none of these players are on the team. It is still early, but with more competition coming up because of injury, they are fighting for a spot once everyone returns.
Sosa is suddenly the new backup infielder as the White Sox resources are thinning. Luckily the 23-year-old infielder is playing with a ton of confidence at the moment. He started the Triple-A season white hot, slashing .448/.556/.828 with two home runs, eight RBIs, and more walks than strikeouts. The White Sox are very high on Sosa’s potential. He entered Spring Training with a chance to compete for the starting job at second base before the team signed Elvis Andrus. He is currently listed as the eighth-ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system. The White Sox signed him as a… Read more »
Would solve a big problem is Sosa can be at least competent defensively and .250 avg with the bat. Of course some power & speed with that would be a plus.
It’s unbelievable how fragile these athletes are. Year after year, Eloy, Anderson, Moncada are hurt early and often. Always with tendon, muscle and soft tissue injuries.