Veteran outfielders Mike Tauchman, Michael A. Taylor making impact on rebuilding White Sox
As the White Sox’ front office filled out the roster ahead of what was expected to be another losing season, outfielders Mike Tauchman and Michael A. Taylor stood out as sign-and-flip veterans.
Austin Slater, a fellow outfielder, turned out to be the Sox’ lone offseason signee to get flipped at the trade deadline. Even though they didn’t net any prospects in a trade, Tauchman and Taylor still are having an impact on general manager Chris Getz’s rebuilding project as sage veterans showing a group of youngsters how to do things at the major-league level.
On the field, Tauchman has been successful, entering Sunday with a 1.9 bWAR, the best among Sox position players. Taylor’s numbers don’t stand out as much, but with three homers in his last five games, he’s up to eight on the season.
It’s off the field, though, where their biggest impact can be tracked, influencing the young players who hope to be part of winning Sox teams years down the road.
Tauchman — under club control for next season — has earned props from team brass as a respected clubhouse presence and a vocal leader.
Some of the traits that have made him effective in that role were visible Friday, when an emotional outburst after a failed check-swing attempt led to his first career ejection.
“He’s a passionate guy, really wants to win,” manager Will Venable said Sunday. “He’s super competitive and puts everything he has into these games and his training and his preparation. It comes out every once in a while, but that’s Mike, and that’s why he’s such an impactful player for us.”
You’re not likely to see that emotion from the reserved Taylor. But that doesn’t mean he’s not helping the young guys.
“He’s very similar [to Tauchman], just packaged differently,” Venable said. “Where Tauch is much more vocal than Michael Taylor, Michael’s got that quiet wisdom that he’ll sprinkle on the group every once in a while. He’s a guy that goes out there and leads by example, also.
“He’s meant a great deal and had a huge impact, obviously, on the field and in the clubhouse being that stable veteran presence for our guys.”
Locked-in Lenyn
Though shortstop Colson Montgomery got all the attention for blasting the longest homer at Rate Field this season, he didn’t even hit the first home run of the first inning in the Sox’ 6-4 victory.
Three batters earlier, second baseman Lenyn Sosa smacked a two-run shot, his 14th homer, tying him for the team lead.
Sosa has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games with a .370/.423/.696 slash line, five homers and 11 RBI in that span.
“Since Opening Day — even before that, in spring training — I felt like, yeah, I belong here,” Sosa said. “I’m a good player, and I know I can do the job I’m supposed to do here. There’s no doubt in my mind that I deserve to be here and that I am part of this.”
Bullpen line change
In the midst of a spate of brief outings by their starters, the Sox needed some relief reinforcements.
They called up left-hander Cam Booser and right-hander Elvis Peguero from Triple-A Charlotte, swapping out lefty Bryan Hudson, who had pitched three times in five days, and righty Wikelman Gonzalez, who made back-to-back appearances Friday and Saturday.