The White Sox Are Failing One Of Their Own Players

Tim Elko has overcome challenges his entire career. He tore his ACL at Ole Miss in 2021, yet returned less than a month later, hitting multiple grand slams and carrying the team on his back. Despite his heroics, he went undrafted after that season. Elko returned to college the next year and led Ole Miss to the 2022 College World Series title. 

Following that season, he finally got drafted by the White Sox in the tenth round, 311th overall. He signed for a measly $35,000. As an older college draft pick, nothing huge was ever expected of him. But he has performed at every level in the White Sox farm system ever since being drafted. He has accomplished everything except for the ultimate goal: getting called up to the big leagues. The White Sox are failing him — and themselves — by keeping him in Triple-A.

Elko's Consistent Offensive Production

Elko has mashed at every level he has ever played at. Entering the ranks of professional baseball has not changed that. In 2023, he hit 28 home runs with an .873 OPS across three levels. Last season, he hit 18 home runs with a .785 OPS across 139 games in Double-A and Triple-A. As expected, he is mashing so far this season as well. He enters the day hitting .366 with a .923 OPS in 12 Triple-A games on the season. An absurdly high BABIP indicates his numbers will regress somewhat, but Elko can hit. There is no doubt about it.

Strikeout Problems

The fact that Elko is still in AAA begs the question, why haven't the White Sox called him up yet? It's not like they don't have space for him on the roster. The team could desperately use more offensive firepower, as they rank tied for 26th in home runs and 29th in OPS entering the day. The answer likely lies in Elko's strikeout rate. Swing and miss has always been part of his game. He struck out nearly 30% of the time last season, and his K rate is almost 35% this season. There is a legitimate concern that these strikeout issues would worsen against MLB pitchers. Still, there is no doubt that he is a talented hitter who plays in an era where strikeouts are less frowned upon than ever. 

The Andrew Vaughn Dilemma

Andrew Vaughn's presence also complicates Elko's potential path to Chicago. While the two could co-exist in the same lineup, Vaughn's status as a former top pick and centerpiece of the White Sox rebuild has afforded him a much longer leash at first base than he likely warrants. He has been among the worst-qualified hitters in all of MLB this season, and it is fair to wonder if he will even be on the team at this time next year. Yet he keeps hitting in the middle of the lineup and is treated like a cornerstone.

The organization's preferential treatment towards Vaughn is likely because they have a substantial investment of time and resources in him. He is a former third overall pick and the White Sox tendered him a contract of almost $6 million via arbitration last offseason, whereas Elko has always flown under the radar as a former tenth-round pick. In any case, Vaughn has done nothing to have his spot set in stone, while Elko is seemingly on the outside looking in.

White Sox Need To Give Tim Elko A Chance

The White Sox are doing a disservice to Tim Elko by not giving him a chance at the big leagues. Rewarding a guy who has worked up the minor league ranks as a college draft pick would be an organizational success story. Not only that, but Elko has earned the honor of becoming a big leaguer. He has always hit in the minors and could help spark the White Sox lineup, whether as a first baseman or designated hitter. At 26 years old, now is the time for Elko to get his chance. If the White Sox don't call him up soon, it is fair to wonder if they ever will.