Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada is off to a hot start. Is his breakout season finally about to happen?
Just about a week into the season, Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada is off to a white-hot start. Through the first five games of the season, Moncada is hitting .450 with two homeruns and six RBI through five games. The young third baseman is playing the best baseball of his career.
Moncada did not always play in the majors.
Originally, he played in the Cuban National Series. He left Cuba in June 2014 with permission from the Cuban government to pursue a career in MLB. The Boston Red Sox signed Moncado, giving him a $31.5 million signing bonus. He spent 2015 in the minors and developed into one of the best prospects in baseball. Going into 2016, he was ranked the 7thbest prospect in MLB. He debuted for the Red Sox in 2016, hitting .211 in just eight games. In December 2017, Moncada was traded to the Chicago White Sox as the key member of a package for Chris Sale.
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In his first full season in 2018, the 23-year old did not have a great showing. He hit .235 through 149 games and led the majors in strikeouts with 217. Even though he hit 17 home runs and 61 RBI, he was a constant threat to strikeout. He was disappointing last year. There were high expectations for the Cuba-native.
Besides Jose Abreu, there are not many dangerous hitters in the White Sox lineup. They are hoping Moncada can remain hot and continue to hit like this for an extended period of time. If Moncada develops into the hitter he has been in the young season, the White Sox will improve.
Thus far, Moncada has been playing like a totally different player. He blasted a monstrous, two-run 438-foot bomb against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. It seems that he has developed a new kind of power.
Whatever Moncada did in the offseason worked. His swing has transformed and he is playing at a whole new level. Since this is such a small sample size, his cooldown will be inevitable. However, if he continues to hit like this; he will have a breakout season and could potentially become an All-Star. This is only possible if he keeps slugging the same way he is.
Moncada looks to stay hot this weekend as the Chicago White Sox take on the Seattle Mariners at home in Guaranteed Rate Field.