Moncada makes strides on improving defense

MLB's top prospect named club's Minor League Player of Month

May 1st, 2017

KANSAS CITY -- The most frequently asked question of late concerning the White Sox doesn't really center upon whether their 13-10 first month is a sign of good things to come or when the trades will pick up as part of the ongoing rebuild.
Most fans do want to know when , ranked as the No. 1 prospect overall by MLBPipeline.com, will arrive with the White Sox. The answer provided by the club on Moncada and any other of its plethora of top prospects is basically the following: when they are ready to contribute consistently for the foreseeable future, avoiding an up-and-down situation with the Minors.
But Moncada continues to make progress toward that point. The switch-hitter has a .314 average with four home runs, seven RBIs and six stolen bases for Triple-A Charlotte, earning White Sox Minor League Player of the Month honors as announced by the club on Monday. Right-hander was named Minor League Pitcher of the Month.

Moncada also has been developing defensively at second base according to White Sox Minor League director Chris Getz.
"For one, he's gotten better pretty much every day since we've laid eyes on him," Getz said. "That's really a testament to him and his work ethic, and his desire to get better. His footwork is improving. He's turning double plays. His arm, his whole rhythm.
"To be a successful defender, it's about moving your feet, and the better your feet are, the better your hands are. He's been able to make the adjustments needed and he's gotten better every day."
Getz pointed to Moncada's high level of athleticism as the most impressive part of what he brings to the table.
"You look at him across the board, and he's got such potential on all different areas," Getz said. "I don't think any area is a finished product, and that's a testament to his ceiling really. But there were some things defensively that we felt he could improve on and he's done it and done it really quickly."