The White Sox are deciding on first baseman Tim Elko onto the large league roster, reviews Vinnie Duber of The Chicago Solar-Occasions. He’ll be in line for his MLB debut tomorrow in opposition to the Marlins. Chicago’s 40-man roster is at capability, in order that they’ll must make corresponding energetic roster and 40-man strikes.
Elko has by no means gotten a lot prospect fanfare, however his minor league manufacturing has definitely warranted a promotion. The best-handed hitter is out to a monster .348/.431/.670 slash over 31 video games with Triple-A Charlotte. He has already hit 10 homers and 6 doubles in 130 plate appearances. He’s tied with Otto Kemp for the Triple-A house run lead. Amongst hitters with 100+ journeys to the plate, solely Carson McCusker has a better OPS.
The 6’3″, 250-pound Elko has been a productive energy bat courting again to his faculty days at Ole Miss. He however signed for a minuscule $35K bonus as a Tenth-round draft decide in 2022. Scouts considered him as an organizational depth kind due to his defensive limitations and lofty swing-and-miss charges. These are nonetheless current, although Elko has made slight enhancements to his plate self-discipline this season. He’s drawing walks at what can be a personal-best 11.5% clip. That comes alongside an alarming 28.5% strikeout charge.
It’s a troublesome profile to tug off, one which main league pitchers have a tendency to take advantage of. Nonetheless, the Sox have scored the fourth-fewest runs in MLB. They’ve obtained a mixed .215/.273/.356 slash from their first basemen and designated hitters. There’s little motive to not give Elko a chance to attempt to proceed to defy expectations.
Andrew Vaughn has labored as the first first baseman. The previous third general decide has posted middling numbers for almost all of his profession. He entered play tonight with a dismal .186/.223/.293 line. A homer in his first at-bat will increase that a little bit bit, however it’s more and more troublesome to see Vaughn rising as a reliable commerce chip for GM Chris Getz and firm.
He’s taking part in on a $5.85MM arbitration wage and appears rather more like a DFA or non-tender candidate than somebody who might internet the Sox a prospect of any regard. They haven’t had a set DH, so Vaughn and Elko might coexist in the identical lineup, however it’s honest to marvel how rather more runway Vaughn could have as an on a regular basis participant.
