On Sunday, Chicago White Sox first basemen Andrew Vaughn injured his hip after making a diving catch in right field during a spring training game against the Dodgers. It is important to note that right field is not Vaughn’s natural position.
Luckily, the injury seems to not be too serious.
Andrew Vaughn has been diagnosed with a hip pointer injury (bruised pelvis on the right side). He will progress as his symptoms resolve and is preliminarily projected to return to game action in the next one to two weeks.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 28, 2022
Although Vaughn will not miss much time, it is alarming that the White Sox are one or two injuries away from being extremely thin at right field. Vaughn’s injury really shows why the White Sox needed to address a hole at right field since the beginning of the off-season.
Unfortunately, most of the available options at right field have all been signed by other teams. This injury proves the White Sox should sign free agent Michael Conforto as soon as possible. Putting a natural first basemen out in right field is not the best idea. That applies to both Vaughn and Gavin Sheets.
Vaughn’s injury on Sunday should be setting off Rick Hahn to sign a real outfielder to play the position full time for the White Sox.
While it is good that Vaughn will not be out longterm, it most likely mean that Rick Hahn won’t make any big moves to sign an outfielder. If Vaughn does end up missing extended time somehow, it could be an opportunity for a Sox prospect to come up to the big leagues. One example could be Yoelqui Cespedes, that could fill in and rotate with Sheets while Vaughn gets back.
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