Vaughn 'having fun,' finding rhythm at plate

CHICAGO – Andrew Vaughn is starting to find his rhythm at the plate, just as everyone in the White Sox organization expected from the No. 12 prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline, who possesses an extremely polished approach.

The 23-year-old picked up his first career three-hit game during Thursday night’s 11-0 whitewash of the Tigers, knocking out two doubles in the process. He came into Friday’s series opener with Cleveland on a 9-for-22 roll with a 1.004 OPS over his last seven games, having reached base in 13 of his 15 games overall this season and hit in nine.

Manager Tony La Russa mentioned earlier in April how the rookie was trying to do too much at the plate. Vaughn agreed with his manager, having coupled a comfortable work routine with basic enjoyment of what he’s doing.

“I’m just having fun with it and enjoying being here. You gotta be a little kid. It is your job, but if you go out there and have fun, everything works out,” said Vaughn during a Friday Zoom. “I’m just staying within myself. Just going out there and hitting it where it’s pitched.

“At first definitely you are on the big stage and I haven’t really been on that stage before. I was pressing a little hard, trying to create a result instead of just going out and having fun and playing the game that I love and have been playing since I was a little kid.”

Moving from his first base home to a new position in left field could have contributed to Vaughn’s 3-for-22 start offensively. But he hasn’t made an error in 19 total chances, looking like a natural fit in left.

“It’s been a smooth transition for me,” Vaughn said. “The infield part definitely helps with the reaction. You are ready for every single pitch. Bringing that to the outfield is definitely beneficial.”

Mercedes making history
Yermín Mercedes has been the surprise of baseball during the first month of the season, and he looks to reach one more April milestone. Mercedes’ .423 average was tops in the Majors entering Friday, as he tried to become the fifth rookie in Major League history to lead in average entering May.

Mercedes was trying to join St. Louis’ Aledmys Diaz (.423 in 2016), Minnesota’s Bobby Darwin (.439 in 1972), Atlanta’s Ralph Garr (.411 in 1971) and Jim Busby of the White Sox (.462 in 1951). Garr finished at .343 in ’71, while Diaz was the only other one of this quartet to reach .300 by finishing exactly at .300.

“Yerm can swing it. It’s incredibly impressive to watch,” Vaughn said. “He goes up there and he’s going to do damage every single pitch he sees. So, it’s pretty cool and it’s helping the team win. Everybody is trying to follow suit and get in there and take good ABs and do some damage.”

Third to first
• Right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn is scheduled to make Saturday afternoon’s start for the White Sox, per La Russa. Lynn will have to be activated from the injured list, where he has been situated retroactive to April 17 with a strained right trapezius.

• Adam Eaton returned to Friday’s lineup after serving a one-game suspension during Thursday’s nightcap in the White Sox doubleheader sweep of the Tigers.

Eaton, who lost his appeal, was suspended after shoving shortstop Andrés Giménez in the first inning of a loss to Cleveland on April 15. Eaton felt as if he was knocked off the bag and tagged out by Giménez after successfully legging out a double and admitted postgame that day he let emotions get the best of him. Benches cleared after the fracas, but order was quickly restored.

• Carlos Rodón is the eighth pitcher since 1900 to win each of his first four outings of a season with at least 35 strikeouts, per Elias. The southpaw featuring a 0.72 ERA joins Kansas City's Zack Greinke (2009), Boston's Pedro Martínez (2000), Arizona's Randy Johnson (2000), Boston's Roger Clemens (1986), the Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela (1981), California's Nolan Ryan (1975) and Washington's Tom Cheney (1963).

They Said It
“This is a special group. I’ve never been around a team like this, especially at this level. It’s special. Guys top to bottom, everybody here has the same mindset. We want to win.” – Vaughn

“It’s a good first step for a six-month season.” – La Russa on the White Sox showing in April