Andrew Vaughn, White Sox

[Otto von Ballpark]

The hype train has already started for Andrew Vaughn, the White Sox's presumptive DH:

 

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/03/24/mlb-rosters-white-sox-dont-plan-hold-back-prospect-andrew-vaughn/4801933001/

 

3rd overall pick in the 2019 draft, hasn't played above A-ball yet -- should be interesting to see how he does! White Sox already talking long-term contract with him too -- and not using his promotion for leverage.

[ScrapTheNickname]

He seems at least 2 years away. Can he really be on course for 2020? If so, congrats on pushing a great talent.

[cHawk]

Anyone who says he is on the level is Cruz is a fool...I'll just say that

[nicksaviking]

Yeah, I can't pick up on this trail too well. Where's all the hype coming from for this guy? He had one MiLB season where he was good but couldn't crack an .800 OPS at either level of A ball. And he's a first basemen. First basemen ALWAYS get devalued in prospect rankings, yet somehow Vaughn is a top 20 guy?

 

It looks like he's got some good tools, specifically, it looks like he might be able to avoid giant strikeout numbers which is a huge problem for Chicago, but all this love for this guy seems like it has to simply be tied to his draft position. Which, by now every baseball fan should know promises you jack squat.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Yeah, I can't pick up on this trail too well. Where's all the hype coming from for this guy?

Here's a nice article on Vaughn -- and the challenges of evaluating a first baseman -- from before the 2019 draft:

 

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2019/5/30/18645138/mlb-draft-andrew-vaughn-first-baseman-cal

 

The article mentions another right-handed college first baseman, Spencer Torkelson, who later went 1st overall in the 2020 draft.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

He had one MiLB season where he was good but couldn't crack an .800 OPS at either level of A ball.

His inexperience is definitely cause for concern, but these stats aren't too bad. Both of the minor leagues he played in were extreme pitcher's leagues with league OPSes around .680 -- by comparison, the MLB OPS that year was .758 (and AAA was even higher). Adjusting for league, Fangraphs pegs those performances around a 129 wRC+.

 

Of course, that alone doesn't warrant a jump straight to MLB, even if it's decent for his first introduction to pro ball (coming after a full college season which began back in February).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Of course, Kris Bryant in his draft year put up wRC+ figures of 209 and 212, and then went to the AFL where he posted a 1.184 OPS. He had a higher K rate and lower walk rate, but that's the kind of overall production you'd like to see from a low-minors player before jumping straight to MLB!

[Otto von Ballpark]

This Vaughn promotion reminds me a bit of Gordon Beckham -- although even he had a couple months at AA/AAA before getting the call to MLB in June 2009. And of course, after a great rookie year, he regressed quite a bit after that.

[nicksaviking]

 

His inexperience is definitely cause for concern, but these stats aren't too bad. Both of the minor leagues he played in were extreme pitcher's leagues with league OPSes around .680 -- by comparison, the MLB OPS that year was .758 (and AAA was even higher). Adjusting for league, Fangraphs pegs those performances around a 129 wRC+.

 

Of course, that alone doesn't warrant a jump straight to MLB, even if it's decent for his first introduction to pro ball (coming after a full college season which began back in February).

 

I didn't say his stats were bad. I said the opposite in fact.

 

Kudos to Chicago for getting their young players involved soon, but honestly, if a guy drafted in the 2nd round put up the same numbers, nobody would be having this discussion. 

[Harrison Greeley III]

One point of reference for me is that he played in the Pac 12 in 2018 just like Trevor Larnach. 

Larnach 21yo - .348/.463/.652 - 19hr
Vaughn 20yo - .402/.531/.819 - 23hr

He's pretty talented.

I have my doubts he'll take Uncle Jerry's low-ball extension offer before the first MLB plate appearance though. So I assume he's in AAA till at least June unless something happens to Abreu.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I have my doubts he'll take Uncle Jerry's low-ball extension offer before the first MLB plate appearance though. So I assume he's in AAA till at least June unless something happens to Abreu.  

I take it you didn't read the linked article? The team has all but said he's going to be their opening day DH.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

if a guy drafted in the 2nd round put up the same numbers, nobody would be having this discussion. 

I guess the question is, to what degree is Vaughn overrated, and to what degree are those numbers overrated?

[Harrison Greeley III]

 

I take it you didn't read the linked article? The team has all but said he's going to be their opening day DH.

Yeah, I see it now. I got caught up in the comments of this thread. 

[Dman]

 

I take it you didn't read the linked article? The team has all but said he's going to be their opening day DH.

 

Dang the White Sox are pushing all their chips into the middle.  If their pitching holds that is going to be one tough team for next 6 to 8 years at least.  I am pretty jealous of the lineup they have already not including Vaughn.

 

They don't have a ton of depth but look above average almost everywhere now.

[gil4]

 

He seems at least 2 years away. Can he really be on course for 2020? 

Not without a time machine.  

 

That has been posted for almost a day and a half and nobody has given you a hard time for it yet?  We have some work to do around here to be ready for regular season game threads!

[The Wise One]

If you look at last year's DH stats for the White Sox, mediocrity for Vaughn would be an improvement. Learn on the job could work, or fail. 

[jkcarew]

The only reason we hasn’t played at least AA ball is because of COVID.

Not all prospects are required to delay their arrival due to COVID. It’s something to consider for sure, but it’s not a rule. Everyone thinks he’ll hit, he was drafted 3rd overall as a refined college bat two years ago now...at it’s not like he’s been anywhere close to overmatched this spring. Oh, and last year the Sox managed a very productive lineup with a DH that OPS’d 627. Of course you play him.

 

(Almost same exact age as Kirilloff. Drafted higher. Performing much better in ST. And I haven’t noticed anyone here suggesting starting Kirilloff out of the gate would have been an act of desperation on the Twins part, despite the fact that Kirilloff would be replacing someone who OPS’d 792)

[TheLeviathan]

Imagine how scary this team would be if it didn't think James Shields was their ticket to the postseason.

[Channing1964]

Andrew Vaughn....new White Sox left fielder...finally somebody in the MLB has a worse defender out there than the Minnesota Twins.

[Channing1964]

Dang the White Sox are pushing all their chips into the middle.  If their pitching holds that is going to be one tough team for next 6 to 8 years at least.  I am pretty jealous of the lineup they have already not including Vaughn.

 

They don't have a ton of depth but look above average almost everywhere now.

hahaahaaahaaaaa No Way! Really?

[big dog]

 

Imagine how scary this team would be if it didn't think James Shields was their ticket to the postseason.

Yeah, that's got Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio potential, no doubt. Yikes.

 

Although they also got Lucas Giolito for Adam Eaton. The trades give and the trades take away, I guess.

[h2oface]

I love it. People can talk all they want, but time in the minors can be a waste if they can perform the same in the show. You can say they need more time, but you only know that is true if they get the opportunity and fail. Otherwise, you don't, and are just guessing. 

 

We can always watch Sano strike out 4 times instead of Kirilloff, or Rooker. At least then we know those strikeouts cost more.

[Nine of twelve]

Ferpetessake! If there is a hype train to be concerned about it's not the topic of this thread. Instead, it's this thread itself. There have been 22 posts (which I have scanned very cursorily) regarding an unproven player on a team other than the Twins. IM very HO people are getting worked up about almost nothing.

[big dog]

White Sox signed Jake Lamb, allegedly to DH. Does that mean they really plan to put Vaughn in left?

 

I predict lots of fly balls getting grass stains out there. Well, that's what I've heard anyway.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Yeah, that's got Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio potential, no doubt. Yikees

 

Although they also got Lucas Giolito for Adam Eaton. The trades give and the trades take away, I guess.

 

They do, but I imagine we'll be talking about James Shields in our generation like the old timers did about Doyle Alexander.

[Trov]

I say lets see what he does.  I have concern for him doing DH mainly as that is not the easiest for some hitters.  Many hitters have talked for years how they prefer to be in the field, and many great hitters have put up better numbers in the field than as DH, but that may be loaded stat based on fact they DH at end of career.  

 

Overall, he is considered a top hitting prospect and could be just that.  He has yet to face MLB level pitching, save from what he did this spring.  Even if he starts hot, what he does after league scouts him more will be true test. 

 

His spring numbers are fine, but I remember a few times Hicks crushed in the spring for us only to come out the gates missing every pitch someone threw up there. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Vaughn is off to a slow start at the plate (.136/.321/.227, .549 OPS in 28 PA) but did make this catch in LF yesterday:

 

https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-04/15/b10cf549-a00cc51b-47ebc484-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4

 

With Eloy Jiménez still out, Nick Williams cut, and Yermin Mercedes off to hot start at DH, it looks like Vaughn should get a chance as the White Sox primary LF for awhile.

[Cap'n Piranha]

We'll see if it's just SSS to start  a career, but right now Vaughn is making less than 20% hard contact (despite pulling the ball over 60% of the time), is swinging and missing at a higher rate than Miguel Sano, and is below average against fastballs and changeups (although above average against everything else).