The Chicago White Sox’s youth movement continues to show progress.
The team’s rookies supplied all of the runs in a 4-1 home win over Kansas City on Saturday, clinching a series victory against the Royals for the first time since 2023.
Tim Elko hit a two-run homer in the second inning, Chase Meidroth ripped a solo blast in third and Kyle Teel — in just his second game in the major leagues — singled in the eighth, leading to an insurance run. He also hit a single in the sixth.
The White Sox played both their rookie catchers, with Teel serving as designated hitter and batting fifth and Edgar Quero behind the plate and batting sixth. Quero went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Chicago manager Will Venable plans to play Teel and Quero as much as possible.
“I think the easiest answer is just that they’ll split time,” Venable told Sports Illustrated. “I think you may see them match up a little bit. But we’re comfortable with Kyle facing lefties, and obviously ‘Q’ being a switch hitter, we’re comfortable with him on both sides of the plate.
“And excited about them catching all of our pitchers. So just understanding the demands of that position are extremely high, so I think just making sure that they can both split the load is the way we’ll go into this.”
Meidroth is hitting .300 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 42 games.
Quero has 11 RBIs and is hitting .258 in 39 games.
Elko has four home runs and eight RBIs in just 14 games. He took over at first base when struggling veteran Andrew Vaughn was sent to the minors.
“I’m just trying to keep it simple and get good pitches to hit, and I was able to do that today,” Elko said after Saturday’s game. “It is not just the young guys. All our guys showed fight today.”
The White Sox will start rookie right-handed reliever Mike Vasil (3-2, 1.89 ERA), who has pitched 38 innings over 18 appearances. On May 8 against the Royals, he yielded two earned runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings.
The Royals are scheduled to send Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 5.12) to the mound to try to salvage the finale. The right-hander has 54 strikeouts and 20 walks in 65 innings over 12 starts.
The 33-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 41 innings over nine games (six starts) against the White Sox.
Lorenzen is coming off a no-decision against the Cardinals on Tuesday, when he gave up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.
“He didn’t have his best stuff,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He didn’t have his (velocity) or his command.”
Vinnie Pasquantino has reached base in 23 straight games. Kansas City’s first baseman reached base four times Saturday with a home run, two singles and a walk. His home run gave the Royals a brief 1-0 lead.
Mikael Garcia is putting together an All-Star campaign. He has seven home runs and 30 RBIs as well as 13 stolen bases. He is hitting .310 and has an OPS of .860 despite not having a set spot in the lineup. This week he has settled into the No. 3 spot, just ahead of Pasquantino.
–Field Level Media
