Yoán Moncada supplied the only run of the day in the Angels 1-0 victory over the White Sox this afternoon when his infield squibber deflected off Mike Clevinger's glove. He also made several impressive defensive plays at third base. Yet his contributions to the Angels' victory today are just part of the storyline surrounding him.
White Sox Fans Hostile Reception
Moncada, who spent parts of eight seasons on the South Side, has been noticeably booed by the White Sox faithful every time he has stepped up to bat in the series. The reception for Moncada is noticeably different from that of his former White Sox and current Angels teammate Tim Anderson, who received a warm welcome back and a standing ovation before his first at-bat on Opening Day.
Following today's game, Moncada spoke with reporters and acknowledged the hostility towards him.
"Honestly, it doesn't bother me. There are fans that love me and fans that hate me. But I don't pay attention to it." Moncada said.
Moncada's Disappointing White Sox Tenure
Moncada had the spotlight on him from day one of his White Sox tenure. He was the centerpiece of the blockbuster Chris Sale trade with the Boston Red Sox in December 2016, which permanently changed the trajectory of both franchises. Sale ultimately helped bring the Red Sox a championship in 2018, while injuries and inconsistent performance plagued Moncada's time with the White Sox. His stellar 2019 and above-average 2021 season gave White Sox fans hope that he would eventually reach his superstar ceiling, but his moments of brilliance were fleeting. Moncada found himself on the injured list far too often during his White Sox stint. And when he was on the field, he often did not perform to his potential because of these physical issues.
Inevitable Divorce
The writing on the wall for Moncada's time with the White Sox was evident even last season. He suffered a strained adductor in early April 2024 and missed several months as a result. Once he returned, the White Sox were well on their way to becoming the worst team in modern MLB history and no longer saw Moncada as a part of the team's future. Then interim manager Grady Sizemore gave him just one at-bat after he returned, prioritizing the playing time of younger players like Miguel Vargas and Bryan Ramos instead. The White Sox officially parted ways with Moncada after the season when they declined his $25 million team option for 2025 and instead paid him a $5 million buyout. Letting him go was a formality from the White Sox perspective.
The Yoán Moncada Era Is Over
Moncada signed with the Angels in early February, and it just so happened that the Angels would be in Chicago for the Opening Series. The three-game set concludes with the rubber match tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if Moncada gets the same reception again or if people will start taking it easier on him. The reactions towards Moncada show that White Sox fans do not forget and are not afraid to voice their true feelings.
