Several of the White Sox’ prospects have struggled at the plate this season, but no one has been worse than Daniel Palka.
Palka is hitting .035 (2-for-57) this season. His second hit of the season, which was a single in the sixth inning of the Sox’ 6-3 loss against the Royals on Thursday, ended a 0-for-21 slump.
Palka only other hit this season was on April 17.
What makes Palka’s drought so bewildering is that he belted a team-leading 27 homers as a rookie in 2018. And this season with Class AAA Charlotte, he hit .263 and had 27 home runs and 72 RBI.
After Palka was part of the Sox’ September call-up, he said he felt more in sync after having success in the minors. However, he has yet to prove that.
Manager Rick Renteria believes Palka has had bad luck this season.
“If I look at it across the board, probably some well hit balls that didn’t fall in,” Renteria said. “He’s had some better at-bats and put some better contact. In time they all just balance out and hopefully that’s the beginning of it.”
Worth noting
Tim Anderson was nominated by the Sox for this year’s Roberto Clemente award finalist. The award goes to the major-league player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”
Anderson, who will be honored at the Sox’ next homestand, pledged in May that he’ll donate $500 per stolen base to his “League of Leaders” charity as part of his “Stealing Away at Senseless Violence” fundraiser. So far, Anderson has stolen 16 bases this season and donated $8,000.
Last season, Jose Abreu was named the Sox’ Roberto Clemente nominee.
Another lost season
With the Sox’ loss on Thursday, this will officially be their seventh consecutive sub-.500 season.
The Sox have only had four winning seasons (2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012) since they won the World Series in 2005.
