Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez ripped a line drive within the third inning Monday that seemed prefer it was going to be an extra-base hit down the right-field line.
Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn dove and made an amazing catch for the ultimate out of the inning.
One inning later, Royals middle fielder Drew Waters despatched a hard-hit ball in Vaughn’s course. Vaughn jumped as excessive as he may and made the catch.
After spending most of his first two major-league seasons within the outfield, Vaughn moved to his pure place of first base this yr.
Vaughn advised the Tribune final week he’s persevering with to study every single day.
“(I’ve been) trying to get better at it since spring training,” he mentioned. “(I’m) working with (infield coach) Eddie (Rodríguez), getting my reps in and picks and footwork around the bag. All sorts of stuff.”
Vaughn went 3-for-5 with two singles and a solo house run Tuesday in opposition to the Kansas City Royals, however the Sox surrendered two runs within the ninth and misplaced 7-6 in entrance of 10,395.
Vaughn’s house run within the third gave the Sox a 6-0 lead. But three solo homers helped the Royals get inside 6-5 getting into the ninth.
Bobby Witt Jr. drove in a run with a double and Maikel Garcia scored the game-winner when Gregory Santos was known as for a balk.
It was one other powerful evening for the Sox, who’re a season-worst 33 video games underneath .500 (53-86).
As a rookie in 2021, Vaughn performed 107 video games within the outfield, principally in left, and 15 at first base. Last yr, he performed 84 video games within the outfield (splitting time in proper and left), served because the designated hitter in 29 video games and appeared at first base in 23.
With José Abreu in Houston, Vaughn made the full-time transfer to first in 2023. He’s performed 121 video games at first and has been a DH in eight video games. He has 4 errors and 832 complete probabilities.
“I’ve seen him improve at first base this year,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. “Just his confidence, his palms, his picks. I’ve seen him enhance.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. He’s got the work ethic and we’ve got a good coach doing it. He’s going to continue to get better as this thing goes along and going into next year. Spring training is going to be critical, going to get a lot of work. He’s going to end up being a pretty damn good first baseman.”
Vaughn, 25, has been specializing in his footwork.
“Just being around the bag, helping the infielders out when they make a little off-line throw or a throw in the dirt, being able to get that ball and get that out,” Vaughn mentioned.
He needs to proceed bettering that footwork across the bag, together with growing his vary as a lot as he can.
“And just catch everything that I can catch and help the infielders,” Vaughn mentioned.
The crew’s first-round decide in 2019 out of Cal, Vaughn entered Tuesday with a .252/.311/.419 slash line in 128 video games.
He’s hit his career-high house runs with 18 after his solo shot in Tuesday’s sport, after hitting 17 final season. And with 25 doubles and 70 RBIs, Vaughn is near matching his career-best marks in these classes, too. He had 28 doubles and 76 RBIs in 2022.
Vaughn’s additionally approaching a career-high in video games performed. He performed in 134 video games final season and with Tuesday’s begin is at 129 in 2023.
One thought getting into the season was Vaughn would really feel extra contemporary down the stretch than previously seasons as a result of he wouldn’t be on the transfer as a lot as when within the outfield.
“When you have to run him out there in the outfield, it’s obviously going to affect the body and you’re probably taking away from the one thing you’re expecting him to do, which is hit,” Grifol mentioned.
Vaughn mentioned various components, together with being extra skilled, have contributed.
“I definitely feel fresh,” he mentioned. “It’s nonetheless a grind of a season, we’re (139) video games in. It’s a grind, you’ve simply obtained to study your self and do what you’ve obtained to do and be able to go every single day.
“You’ve just got to keep building off stuff. Learning what your body needs, what you’ve got to do to take care of it. Eating right, sleeping right, how to travel. You name it.”
Overall, Vaughn is having fun with the return to the infield.
“I enjoy being on the field no matter where I’m at,” Vaughn mentioned. “Just being able to play.”
Sox declare reliever off waivers from Pittsburgh
The Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the crew introduced Tuesday. Ramírez, 28, is 1-0 with a 3.67 ERA, three holds and 31 strikeouts in 26 reduction appearances throughout three stints with the Pirates this season.
He has a 6-4 document with a 3.83 ERA, six saves and 31 strikeouts in 97 profession reduction appearances in 4 major-league seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2020-22), Cleveland Guardians (2022) and Pirates (2022-23).
Ramírez will report back to Triple-A Charlotte.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com