Catcher
Competitors: Geovany Soto and Omar Narvaez
Neither Soto or Narvaez will be All Stars in 2017. However their performance will be vital to the growth of the team’s young pitching staff. Young pitchers like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Carson Fulmer are reliant on a talented catcher. Solid play from either Soto or Narvaez is crucial in the development of the White Sox young stars.
Narvaez is the incumbent after appearing in 34 games in 2016. He hit .267 with one home run and 10 RBIs. Naravez held a .992 fielding percentage, but threw out just 8% of base runners.
The 24 year old still has a lot to prove at the big league level. With the White Sox undergoing a youth movement, there’s a chance Narvaez continues to start in hopes he develops into an MLB level catcher.
Soto was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training earlier this offseason. The assumption is that he will break camp with the big league club.
Soto has appeared in 784 games over his 12 year career. He has hit .246 with 105 home runs and 352 RBIs. The 34 year old holds a career .992 fielding percentage while throwing out 27% of base runners.
Soto is nearing the end of his MLB career. Yet his MLB experience will be crucial to the White Sox young pitching staff.
Winner: Geovany Soto
The Youth Movement is extremely important to the White Sox success. The 2017 season will give fans/ownership an opportunity to see their talented young stars face MLB hitting/pitching.
However at catcher, experience is much more important. Soto’s 12 years in the MLB give him the upper hand in this competition. He is better suited to help lead the young rotation and should help their development at the highest level.
Omar Narvaez has a chance to be the future at catcher for the White Sox. But in 2017 the position belongs to Geovany Soto.
Designated Hitter
Competitors: Cody Asche and Matt Davidson
When the White Sox are ready to compete there is a chance that they sign a Designated Hitter in the free agent market. If Jose Abreu is still with the team he could potentially be moved to give a player like Zack Collins a chance at first base. Regardless, in 2017 the battle for DH will go down to two fairly young players who never truly proved themselves during their time in the MLB.
Cody Asche was signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training earlier this offseason. Like Soto, he is expected to break camp with the major league club.
Asche has appeared in 371 games over his four year career. He has hit .240 with 31 home runs, 12 RBIs and five stolen bases.
The former Phillie is just 26 years old. While he didn’t have much success in Philadelphia, he will look to prove himself with the White Sox. If he succeeds, there’s a chance Chicago keeps him throughout the rebuild.
Matt Davidson came to Chicago following the team’s Addison Reed trade that sent the reliever to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Davidson has appeared in 32 major league games, hitting .244 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. In 2016 Davidson fractured his foot in his season debut, keeping him out the entire year.
Davidson was never able to show White Sox fans what he can do in 2016. This season he is looking to prove that he is just as important as a Yoan Moncada or Luis Basabe in the White Sox rebuild.
Winner: Matt Davidson
Davidson has the tools to be an impressive infielder for the White Sox. Fresh off of an injury, the Sox should give him the 2017 season to prove he could be an everyday part of the team’s lineup.
As for Asche, the runner-up has experience playing both third base and left field. Perhaps he can function as a utility man off of the bench.
There’s a chance that Todd Frazier is traded, at which point Davidson would likely slide in at third base. For now though he should expect to be the team’s Opening Day DH heading in to the 2017 season.
Center Field
Competitors: Charlie Tilson and Peter Bourjos
With Adam Eaton now with the Nationals, Guaranteed Rate’s center field is vacant. Much like the battle at catcher and DH, the competition will be between a promising young star and a veteran.
Charlie Tilson is currently the White Sox 11th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Tilson made his MLB debut in 2016, although he tore his hamstring in his first game, taking him out for the entire season.
In 471 minor league games, Tilson hit .293 with 19 home runs, 154 RBIs and 89 stolen bases. Tilson’s obvious weapon is his speed. If he was named the starting center fielder, he would likely hit towards the top of the lineup forming a solid 1-2 punch with Tim Anderson. The 2017 season gives him a chance to prove himself over an entire MLB campaign.
Bourjos, like Soto and Asche, was signed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. His spot on the major league roster isn’t as set as Asche or Soto, but a strong Spring Training would certainly get him on the 25-man.
In his seven years, Bourjos has appeared in 713 games, hitting .243 with 37 home runs, 149 RBIs and 61 stolen bases.
The former Cardinal is basically an older version of Tilson. He has solid speed and can get on base. While he is going on age 30, Bourjos has proved he still has some gas left in the tank.
Winner: Charlie Tilson
While fans are excited about the potential of Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito, Charlie Tilson may make the biggest 2017 impact on the White Sox.
He has a chance to carve out a role as the team’s center fielder of the future. If he can stay healthy the entire year, Tilson could cement his place on the White Sox roster.
Bourjos has potential, but may have to battle for a roster spot with Asche.
Charlie Tilson isn’t yet a household name. But with a strong 2017, he could find himself in the White Sox lineup for years to come.
Right Field
Competitors: Avisail Garcia, Willy Garcia and Rymer Liriano
By the end of the year there’s a good chance a prospect like Adam Engel or Jacob May claim right field. However in Spring Training, these four should battle for the position.
Avisail Garcia is the incumbent after he was surprisingly tendered a contract this offseason. Over his five year MLB career, the outfielder has hit .258 with 39 home runs, 173 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
Garcia hasn’t lived up to his potential since being acquired in a three team deal with the Red Sox and Tigers. Perhaps he was tender as a way to give him one last chance to prove he deserves to be on the roster.
Willy Garcia was claimed off waivers from the Pirates earlier this offseason. He was Pittsburgh’s 12th best prospect in 2015. In 720 minor league games, Garcia has hit .257 with 79 home runs, 367 RBIs and 55 stolen bases.
Garcia will enter camp as a relatively unknown, but exit as a White Sox’ fan favorite. He has all the tools to be a solid MLB outfielder and has a nice blend of speed/power. It appears as if the Sox got another top prospect for basically nothing.
Rymer Liriano was another outfielder claimed off waivers, this time from the Brewers. He missed the entire 2016 season after being hit in the face with a pitch and suffering a concussion and facial contusions among other injuries. Liriano has appeared in 738 minor league games, hitting .277 with 68 home runs, 378 RBIs and 190 stolen bases.
Like (Willy) Garcia, Liriano holds all the traits needed to be a talented MLB outfielder. He needs to prove he could stay healthy, but the former top prospect could prove to be a steal for the Chicago White Sox
Winner: Avisail Garcia
If you’ve been reading, you’d know I’m a big fan of Rymer Liriano. In fact, both he and Willy Garcia are better than Avisail.
What pushes Avisail to the top is Rick Hahn. Hahn has shown time and time again his loyalty to the outfielder. I believe 2017 will provide him one last opportunity to prove himself.
Whether to shines or falls is yet to be seen. Realistically there’s a good chance he doesn’t end the season as the team’s starting right fielder. But going into the 2017 MLB season Avisail Garcia will be the starting right fielder on the Chicago White Sox.
Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14
