Throughout the course of a season, just about every major league team will find itself needing an inexperienced player to learn on the job and produce like a veteran. That’s already happening in several MLB cities this year – either by choice or by necessity.
It just so happens three clubs in the American League Central that were in the news on Monday could all be looking for rookies to give them a boost in what could be a four-team battle for the division title.
So let’s take a closer look at three AL Central youngster who could play important roles going forward.
White Sox lose another key cog
Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert suffered a Grade 3 strain of his right hip flexor when he landed awkwardly on first base beating out an infield single during Sunday’s game against Cleveland.
The White Sox say Robert, USA TODAY’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2019, will be out 12-16 weeks – unless he opts for surgery, which likely would end his season. This is the second major blow to the White Sox outfield this season, after Eloy Jimenez suffered a torn pectoral tendon at the very end of spring training.
Nine-year veteran Leury Garcia is expected to get most of the starts in center field, with rookie Andrew Vaughn potentially playing everyday in left.
Vaughn, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft, got off to a slow start while playing sporadically over the season’s first month. But he has hit better lately – and getting regular at-bats should only help.
