All-Decade Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu, First base
- Years: 2014-2019
- HR: 179
- OPS+: 134
Awards: Rookie of the Year 2014, All-Star 2014, 2018, 2019, Silver Slugger 2014, 2018.
Signed out of Cuba, Abreu arrived in just in time to unseat Konerko as the regular first baseman. It was as smooth a positional transition as the Sox could have hoped for.
Since becoming the centerpiece of the White Sox offense, Abreu has driven in 611 runs with a .293 batting average. In his 2014 Rookie of the Year season, he led the American League in both slugging (.581) and OPS+ (173).
Yoan Moncada, Second Base
- Years: 2017-2019
- HR: 50
- OPS+: 115
Moncada could be considered at third base, where he played in 2019. But an All-Decade team is better with him at second, where the alternative is Gordon Beckham. Through his first three seasons, Moncada has superior numbers in every offensive category.
White Sox fans hope and believe that Moncada’s 2019 is an indicator of things to come. He hit 25 home runs with a .315 batting average and slugged .548.
He also reduced his strikeout rate from one every three plate appearances to one every 3.6. That’s not the strongest endorsement, but it’s progress.