When the White Sox selected Andrew Vaughn with the third overall pick in the 2019 Draft, they did so because he had an impact bat capable of helping their big league club in a hurry. And that's exactly how it's playing out.
Though he didn't get any game action during the 2020 season and has played just 55 games in the Minors (only 29 as high as high Class A), Chicago added Vaughn to its Opening Day roster. The first player from the 2019 Draft to reach the Majors, he'll get regular at-bats while learning left field on the fly as a replacement for the injured Eloy Jiménez.
Even if Jimenez hadn't ruptured his left pectoral tendon, Vaughn would have made the White Sox as their primary DH after batting .279/.375/.459 in 72 Spring Training plate appearances. That line approximates a reasonable expectation for his rookie season, though his ceiling and long-term production is significantly higher.
Vaughn drew little scouting attention as a Northern California high schooler and was an unheralded recruit by California. That changed quickly as he led the Pac-12 Conference with 12 homers and was named its freshman of the year in 2017, then batted .402/.531/.819, tied a school record with 23 homers and won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top amateur as a sophomore. He continued to rake in his Draft year and finished his college career with a .374/.495/.688 line, 50 homers and more walks (123) than strikeouts (75).
Signed for a White Sox-record $7,221,200, Vaughn hit .278/.384/.449 with six homers in 55 games between three levels in his pro debut. He might have reached Chicago in 2020 had the coronavirus pandemic not wiped out the Minor League season and limited his development time to Spring Training and the club's alternate site.
Vaughn has a pretty right-handed swing and no apparent weaknesses at the plate. He has a patient approach, hitting balls where they're pitched, letting his power come naturally and taking walks when opponents won't challenge him. His bat speed and strength give him considerable pop, most of which came to his pull side in his debut but will play to all fields.
Though he didn't get into any official games last year, Vaughn impressed the White Sox with the quality of his at-bats against advanced pitchers in the Cactus League and at their alt site. He's capable of winning a batting title while also providing 30 homers per season and a healthy amount of walks. Chicago has added Jiménez and Luis Robert to its lineup in the past two years, and while they're formidable sluggers, Vaughn is a better all-around hitter than both of them.
Vaughn is a well-below-average runner with limited range at first base, albeit with an arm that produced some low-90s fastballs when he pitched briefly at California. He has worked to improve his athleticism and quickness and can become an average defender at first base.
For now, he'll attempt to get the job done in left field. His last game action in the outfield came with the U.S. 15-and-under national team in 2013, though he got some work in there and at third base at the alternative site last summer. He has below-average range but at least a playable arm, and he might be less of an adventure in left than Jiménez.
Almost all of Vaughn's value will come from his bat, which will be fine because his bat should provide a ton of value. The White Sox put him fifth in the batting order for his big league debut Friday night against the Angels, and he should bat in the heart of their order for years to come. He has the upside to become their most talented offensive performer since Frank Thomas.
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April 03, 2021 at 02:47PM
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What to expect from Andrew Vaughn in MLB - MLB.com
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