ANAHEIM, Calif. — Andrew Vaughn had to wait through a day — Opening Day — to make his major league debut.
But it was worth the wait.
“Every kid dreams about this growing up playing in the backyard, going through little league,” Vaughn, the White Sox’ top-rated prospect, said before playing in his first major league game Friday. “The dream is to get to the big leagues. It’s pretty surreal.”
Batting fifth in manager Tony La Russa’s lineup, Vaughn probably didn’t envision being in left field when this dream-come-true moment happened, but that’s where he was set to be at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, after nine days of crash-course training in the wake of left fielder Eloy Jimenez’ torn pectoral injury on March 24.
It was an eventful spring training for Vaughn, who entered as the Sox’ knighted Opening Day designated hitter despite not having played above Class A. Everyone from the general manager to the director of player development to the manager bent a knee to Vaughn’s hitting approach and swing.
He had to earn the job, though, and he produced consistently posting a .279.375.459 hitting line with two homers, three doubles and a triple in a team-high 72 Cactus League plate appearances and team-high 25 games. For weeks, rumors floated of a possible contract extension, the type of thing that has affected players in the past, but Vaughn seemed unfazed by the speculation.
“I just want to go out and play every day. I love this game,” Vaughn said. “It is my job but going to the field and strapping it on and being ready for every pitch, that’s the biggest thing. Enjoying your teammates and the atmosphere we have here, the winning vibe. We want to make it deep into the postseason. Being part of that is the biggest part for me.”
With a team of outspoken personalities like Tim Anderson, Jimenez and Lucas Giolito, Vaughn more fits the mold of nose-to-the-grindstone worker bee. His no-nonsense focus and attention to detail have been obvious.
“It’s just knowing the situation and knowing I have to slow the game down because it speeds up at each level you go,” Vaughn said. “It’s being where your feet are. Be present, be ready for everything that can happen.”
La Russa didn’t seem worried about Vaughn in left.
“I hope the balls are hit to him, I think he’ll do fine,” he said.
A lifetime first baseman, Vaughn said reading the ball off the bat is the biggest thing.
“Taking live reads in BP has been huge and getting used to how the ball spins toward the line,” he said. “These guys are pretty strong at this level so the ball backspins and it will travel a little farther than you think. Just knowing you have to get behind it.”
In three Cactus League games, Vaughn held his own in left field. His most challenging play might have been going a few back a few steps to catch a high fly in the Arizona sun, and he handled it rather routinely.
He’s been playing deep, and giving Gold Glove center fielder Luis Robert every inch of grass he can cover.
La Russa gave the left-handed hitting Collins the Opening Day start at DH with Leury Garcia in left field and saved Vaughn for left-hander Andrew Heaney, perhaps with the intention of giving both the best chance to succeed but also wanting to keep all 13 position players active. Right-handed hitting Yermin Mercedes, his No. 3 catcher who had one major league at-bat last season, was at DH with Garcia on the bench Friday.
Vaughn, who turns 23 Saturday, will wear No. 25.
“I’m just so honored to be here, and everybody that has helped me on this path to get here so far is in my life for the better, and I’m pretty excited,” he said.
