Yoan Moncada is 23-years-old and although he made his MLB debut back in 2016, appearing in a few games for the Boston Red Sox in September, it's easy to forget that the Chicago White Sox second baseman has yet to play a full MLB season.
So, as any reasonable fan can expect, Moncada has had his ups and his downs in 2018. There's been the good, with 11 home runs and 33 total extra base hits. There's also been the bad, 120 strikeouts in a little more than 300 at bats. Moncada has been streaky with the White Sox, but really no one can be too upset about what a player, who has less than 140 games under his belt, is achieving or not achieving yet.
Adjustments have to be made and although Moncada has been frustrating to watch during some long stretches of time this year, he has shown several instances of greatness. Again, it's too early to tell if he'll reach his potential, but that's why the White Sox have him up, so he can go through the growing pains.
Don't tell that to ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe, though, who was pretty hard on Moncada during Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. In Moncada's second plate appearance, he fell behind in the count 1-2 before working it back to 3-2. ESPN put up a graphic, displaying Moncada's terrible numbers with two strikes.
Sutcliffe then said that Moncada shouldn't be up with the White Sox and that he's not a finished product.
Moncada proceeded to launch a two-run home run on the next pitch.
That had to feel very good for not only Moncada, but his biggest fans too. It's always important to remember that it is extremely early in the rebuild process. You have to be patient and you have to recognize that all these young guys aren't just going to be great right away.
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