GLENDALE, Ariz. — Top first base prospect Andrew Vaughn is keeping his head down, his eyes open and his swing simple in his first major league spring training.
“It’s been great being around the guys in this locker room, the top guys in the organization,” said Vaughn, the 16th-ranked prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline. “I’m always watching to see how guys do it because I want to know the ropes so when I get there, I come in I fit right in.”
Vaughn’s swing and approach got him drafted third overall last June, and he keeps it simple. In this age of technology, he says analytics are not for him.
“Just trying to do damage on a good pitch,” he said. “I try to stay away from all the analytics because it will get to my head. So I go out there with what feels good in the cage and bring it to the game. See it and hit it.
“If you think about (launch angle), you start doing weird stuff. You see guys swinging PVC pipes, doing weird stuff with their swings and that’s just not me.”
Gonzalez throwing at 120 feet
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez said “there’s light at the end of the tunnel” as he works through a sore shoulder. Gonzalez is throwing at 120 feet.
“If you would have asked me two weeks ago, I would have told you no chance,” he said.
Gonzalez signed a one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason. General manager Rick Hahn says Gonzalez is expected to be ready by Opening Day.
“At least this is happening now during spring training so I can make the adjustments right away and get stronger as I move along,” Gonzalez said. “We have plenty of arms here to fill the spot. I’m just trying to get healthy so I can do my part and show the White Sox they signed me for.”
Walk this way
Leury Garcia, who walked only 21 times in 618 plate appearances last season, was manager Rick Renteria’s leadoff man 134 times in 2019 but that might change with a deeper lineup in 2020. Garcia knows he would probably warrant more consideration as a leadoff hitter if he walked more. He said he wants to improve the on-base percentage in his hitting line (.279/.310/.378 in 140 games) from last year.
“I would like to draw more walks, get on base more and score more runs,” Garcia said said. “Just swing at better pitches, and cut down the strikeouts.”
Garcia struck out 139 times. He stands a good chance to open the season at second base, and possibly taking a utility role if and when second base prospect Nick Madrigal gets called up.
This and that
Class AAA left-hander Hunter Schryver is scheduled for Tommy John surgery Thursday. Schryver posted a 2.77 ERA in 30 appearances at Class AA Birmingham and a 8.66 ERA in 10 games at AAA Charlotte last season.
*Outfielder Gorkys Hernandez is in minor league camp after signing a minor league deal. Hernandez, 32, hit .143/.218/.243 in 57 plate appearances for the Red Sox last season. He hit 15 home runs for the Giants in 2018.
