CHICAGO -- Andrew Vaughn knows a thing or two about handling pressure.

His Major League debut with the 2021 White Sox, for a team projected as a World Series contender, arrived with just 254 previous Minor League career plate appearances. Vaughn also started in left field, which was a position put upon the No. 3 pick in the 2019 Draft during the final week of Spring Training after an Eloy Jiménez injury.

So, taking over at first base in 2023, following the historic White Sox lineage at the position moving from Frank Thomas to Paul Konerko to José Abreu beginning in 1990, is a challenge for the 24-year-old, but not an overwhelming obstacle.

“Those are big footsteps to step into,” Vaughn told MLB.com during a New Year’s Eve interview. “I don’t want to be that guy. I want to be my own player and go out and do my best and do whatever I can to help the Sox win.”

First base represents a return home for Vaughn, who was selected from the University of California at that position. But with Abreu locked in for a total of nine seasons, playing time understandably was not readily available at first base. 

There are 139 games played in left field, 63 in right field, 38 at first and even three at second and two at third on Vaughn’s two-year resume. But Abreu joined the World Series champion Astros via a three-year, $58.5 million offseason free agent deal, making Vaughn’s move a natural.

Vaughn topped the ’22 White Sox with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs, to go with his 28 doubles, 60 runs scored and .271/.321/.429 slash line, presenting an extremely solid base.

Abreu’s excellence wasn’t simply about replacing the numbers, though, including the third-most home runs in White Sox history at 243 and his 863 RBIs. Abreu was a true leader, as Vaughn explained.

“He was the face of the team, basically. Him and Tim [Anderson] were the two top guys, and losing Pito [Abreu], it stings a little bit,” Vaughn said. “He kept that clubhouse kind of under his wing. He was the guy everybody looked up to. He’s a grinder. He loves baseball and he puts the work in and I’m just glad I got to learn during that short time I got to play with him.

“It’s the work ethic. Watching what that guy does every single day, day in and day out, is impressive. And you want to be like that. That’s why he’s one of the best mentors, just because you see him doing that and you are like, ‘I want to do that. I want to be like that guy.’”

How important was Abreu to young players such as Vaughn and Gavin Sheets, who also figures to get time at first base as the roster is presently constructed? Vaughn once spoke about how an E:60 should be done on Abreu’s leadership, while both players were set on continuing outfield work away from their natural position if it meant keeping Abreu.

That scenario didn’t play out. Now, it’s Vaughn’s time to put his stamp at first, aside from filling the void caused by Abreu’s departure.

“He’s going to a rival team, and we are losing him. He was a big piece of our team, and now we have to build around it and pick up the slack and do our work,” Vaughn said. “I want to go out there and try to prove myself every single day.”

“We expect Andrew is going to continue to progress,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said at the Winter Meetings. “That's going to improve not just his production, but the rest of the club.”

Putting the ball in play more and making consistent solid contact were two of the positives Vaughn listed from his ’22 season. Stamina at the end of the year was a shortcoming.

People point to extra wear and tear caused by somewhat unknown outfield work as a reason for Vaughn’s 22-for-122 showing over the final two months of 2021 and his .200 average and .580 OPS over Sept./Oct. in ‘22. Vaughn doesn’t buy that idea as his offseason preparation is geared for handling a complete campaign.

“Everybody wants to play the full season and not miss a game,” said Vaughn, who appeared in 134 games last season. “162 is a grind, no matter where you are playing. It’s building that routine. It’s being mentally focused to tackle the whole 162 and taking it day by day.”