Chicago White Sox historically bad right field production

The Chicago White Sox are on pace to make history with their production in right field. It just is not the kind of history they would want.

In theory, Jon Jay was supposed to help the Chicago White Sox land Manny Machado. That obviously did not work, as Machado ended up in San Diego, much to the surprise of the baseball world. Jay also did not work out for the White Sox on the diamond, as spent most of the season on the Injured List. When he did play, Jay sported a mediocre .267/.311/.315 batting line, with just eight doubles in his 182 plate appearances.

As mediocre as those numbers are, Jay’s OPS+ and wRC+ of 70 seems positively Ruthian amongst the White Sox right fielders this year. In fact, White Sox right fielders have been the worst in MLB history.

Let’s face it – the trio of Daniel Palka, Ryan Cordell, and Charlie Tilson are not about to strike fear into the heart of any major league pitcher. However, at least Cordell has hit six homers in his 225 plate appearances, giving the White Sox something at the position while Jay has been out of the lineup.

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Meanwhile, Palka has been a disaster. Just a year removed from hitting 27 homers with a 110 OPS+, he has been one of the worst players in the game. He has somehow had 61 plate appearances this season, resulting in just one single. One. Base. Hit. His -1.3 fWAR is the fourth worst in the majors at this point, despite Palka having 180 fewer plate appearances than any of the players above him.

Next year, reinforcements will be on the way. Luis Robert should be taking over in center, moving Leury Garcia over to right. Garcia may not be anything special with the bat either, but his .274/.309/.390 batting line over the past three seasons is at least somewhat competent.

Of course, the White Sox could look to go out and add another bat to the lineup to play right. Garcia fits well in a super utility role, but has been exposed in more of an every day place in the lineup. A low cost, relatively league average outfielder would be a bargain compared to the production the White Sox have had this year.

The Chicago White Sox are making history in right field in 2019. It is just not the type of history they would want.