With the Miami Marlins signing of Jean Segura, the best free agent second base option is officially off the board. The second baseman with the next highest WAR is Josh Harrison, who is the White Sox non-tendered. Other options include bringing back Elvis Andrus, who has never played second base, or signing Tommy La Stella, who posted a --0.8 fWAR in 195 plate appearances last season. 

Barring an unforeseen trade, the battle for the White Sox second base job will come down to two unproven rookies, Romy Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa. Each made brief appearances with the big league club last season and struggled during their small sample size of action. But the two will have a chance to duke it out during Spring Training and earn the Opening Day job. So which infielder has the edge? Here is everything you need to know. 

Romy Gonzalez

Gonzalez was not listed as one of the White Sox top 30 prospects entering the 2022 season. He put himself on the White Sox radar with a breakout season in Birmingham during the 2021 season. 

Gonzalez got his feet wet in the majors in September of 2021. At the time his contract was selected by the White Sox, he was just one of seven players in the minor leagues with 20-plus home runs and 20-plus steals. By the season's end, he was one of just 16 minor-leaguers to accomplish that feat. 

He made his major league debut on September 3rd as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at third base, going 0-2. The following day Tony La Russa penciled him in as the third baseman and leadoff hitter for his first MLB start. Gonzalez would appear in ten games, going 8-for-32 with three doubles and a pair of RBIs. 

In the minor leagues, he combined to hit .283/.364/.532 with 17 doubles, 24 homers, 61 RBI, 43 walks, 61 runs scored, 24 steals, and a .896 OPS in 93 games between Birmingham and Charlotte, 

Gonzalez got more of an extended opportunity in the big leagues in 2022. In 32 games, 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, along with one appearance in right field and two in left field. For his MLB career at second base, he owns a .979 fielding percentage with two errors in 95 chances. 

The advanced analytics was kind to the 26-year-old. Gonzalez's speed placed him in the 81st percentile of all MLB players, while his arm strength placed him in the 60th percentile. 

However, his struggles at the plate were not limited to the major league level. In 33 games at Triple-A Charlotte, he hit .198/.281/.339 with four home runs and just ten RBIs. His base stealing also took a hit. He was caught stealing on his only attempt in the MLB and went five for seven in Charlotte. 

Gonzalez is a scrappy player who hustles and can provide some energy, but he has never been a great hitter. During college, he slashed .254/.332/.407 with 16 home runs and 78 RBIs in three seasons at the University of Miami. Those are respectable numbers but nothing that jumps off the page. 

He has been a solid infielder at every level. His athleticism also allows him to play multiple positions. As a bench piece for a team trying to win a division, then Gonzalez is a great option. But as an everyday starter, it is hard to envision him being an upgrade over Josh Harrison or even Danny Mendick. 

Lenyn Sosa 

Meanwhile, Leyn Sosa entered the season as the fourth-ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system. His offensive potential is much higher than Gonzalez's. 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 the leagues he played in. 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 he does not walk much. 

The biggest problem with having Sosa as the starting second baseman is his defense. 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 is going to have to live up to his offensive potential to make him a worthwhile option.  

Who Has The Edge? 

If this was 2018 and both players had a full year to develop at the major league level, then either would be worth taking a flier on. Unfortunately for both of them, the rebuild is over. They will be asked to exceed expectations and help the White Sox win the division. 

It's an unfair situation the front office has put them and the fans in. Gonzalez is the safe option but has a lower ceiling than Sosa. This gives him the edge if both struggle offensively because he is a better defender at second base at the moment. 

If Sosa can tap into his power early in Spring Training, then he will make a compelling case, but right now, Gonzalez has the inside track position for the job.