White Sox 2017 Season Summary And 2018 Preview- Position Players

With the White Sox season coming down to its final breaths, it is necessary to look back on this year in order to predict the next. As far as the position players go, there was actually a lot to like even though the overall team record might not say the same thing. Which players stood out the most? More importantly, how will they be able to carry over their success into next season? 2018 Probable Lineup

1. Tim Anderson-SS
2. Yoan Moncada-2B
3. Jose Abreu-1B
4. Avisail Garcia-RF
5. Nicky Delmonico-LF
6. Matt Davidson-DH
7. Kevan Smith-C
8. Yolmer Sanchez-3B
9. Adam Engel-CF

Tim Anderson

Anderson's season was the definition of a rollercoaster ride. Due in large part to personal issues off the field, Anderson got off to about as bad a start as he could have. After finally seeking professional help, he has been on absolute fire. He has raised his average up to around .250, which is nothing short of incredible considering he was below .200 earlier in the year. He capped off his strong second half with a career-high 15 game hit streak. His hit and speed tools will define Anderson's career. If he can consistently hit like he has in the second half and use his speed on the base paths, then Timmy should have a bounce back year with stats similar to his rookie campaign in 2016.

Yoan Moncada

The no. 1 prospect in baseball drew in one of the biggest crowds of the White Sox season when he debuted at Guaranteed Rate Field this summer. Although he does still tend to strike out a lot, he also knows how to draw his fair share of walks and is great at laying off of pitches out of the zone. When he swings and misses, more often than not he is missing at strikes. With more experience, he will start to turn on those pitches on a more consistent basis. What really surprised people about Yoan is his range at second base. Everyone said he needed to slow the game down, and it seems like he has succeeded in that right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCJsc1vLqAs This year has been great in terms of getting Moncada experience. Expect him to bring that confidence to Spring Training next season and come out of the gates firing on all cylinders.

Jose Abreu

What more can we say about Jose? He recently became the third player in MLB history to record four straight seasons of 25+ home runs and 100+ RBI's to begin his career. The other two? Albert Pujols and Joe Dimmagio. Furthermore, Jose clearly stepped up his defense at first base and his leadership skills for the young White Sox. An A.L. Silver Slugger is not out of the question for Abreu, and statistically, we should expect more of the same thing next season. One of the more underrated stars in the league, he is as consistent as they come.

Avisail Garcia

Avi's career year shocked literally everyone in baseball. A 5-tool player who was never able to put it together, Avi did just that this season. If it weren't for Jose Altuve's absurd season, Avi would win the A.L. batting title. He set career highs in home runs (18), runs (71), RBI (80), doubles (24), and WAR (3.7). With the season not quite over yet, he still has a chance to improve those numbers. If Avi can show next year that he really has turned a corner and this is the real Avi, the White Sox will have an important decision to make going into 2019.

Nicky Delmonico

When the White Sox are ready to compete for championships, Delmonico will be an ideal super-utility man. He can play both corner outfield spots, third base, and can be used effectively as a pinch hitter if the situation presents itself. For now though, he is more than capable of holding down left field for the White Sox. It seems all Nicky does is get on base, whether by hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch. Guys like that are vital to a team's overall success.

Matt Davidson

For the most part, Davidson was able to stay off the DL for the majority of the year. The results showed, as he has 26 home runs and 68 RBI's. Both career highs by a landslide. While his current .221 average isn't good by any means, his raw power will still allow him to be a potential 30 home run/75 RBI guy for the team. That type of production coming from the 6-hole in the lineup is more than okay with me. I am still curious to see what he can do with a fully healthy season. Hopefully 2018 is that year.

Kevan Smith

I feel like Kevan Smith doesn't get that much recognition, but he has very quietly turned in a solid season. While his power numbers are bad (4 home runs, 27 RBI), he has hit to the tune of a .280 average for the year. At the end of the day, Zack Collins is still the catcher of the future, but like Delmonico, Kevan is more than capable of handling catching duties. He will serve as a very solid backup to Collins when he is called up to the MLB.

Yolmer Sanchez

Talk about another surprisingly good season. Once Moncada took over everyday second base duties, Sanchez could have pouted or expressed his displeasure with the team. Instead he embraced his role as a super-utility man, playing anywhere the team needed him to. He currently has 11 home runs and 56 RBI's, both career high's. What really stood out this year though, was Yolmer's defense. His defensive WAR for 2017 currently comes in at 1.7, which ranks him 9th in the American League. A great teammate who can play defense essentially anywhere while still being able to drive in some runs. Not a bad guy to have in the clubhouse. At just 25, I think Sanchez would be a great bench man to have on the team three years from now.

Adam Engel

At the plate, it seems like Engel will never figure things out. However, outfield is a different story. As a center fielder, he ranks 3rd in the A.L. in range factor per game. This basically means that he gets jumps and reads on the ball that most center fielders cannot. An example: As soon as contact is made to the ball, Engel is off and running. His route had to be nearly perfect to make the catch and that is what makes him so special in center field. Even if he doesn't get regular playing time, he could be a great defensive specialist in late innings. His elite speed also makes him an ideal pinch runner candidate as well.

Overall

When we look at the White Sox lineup one by one, they honestly aren't as bas as their record may suggest. A Lack of starting pitching and a barren bullpen was cause for a lot of losses. I think the 1-4 of Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, and Garcia has the chance to do a lot of damage at the top of the lineup next season. If the revamped rotation can come together, the White Sox might have something heading into 2018.