Yoan Moncada, the phenom, arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field by way of a ride from teammate Jose Abreu, who made sure his fellow Cuban got there safely by picking him up at O’Hare.
Abreu was making a very special delivery, and not just because an extra 5,000 fans bought tickets for the White Sox’ 9-1 rain-shortened loss to the Dodgers to see Moncada after the team announced late Tuesday his impending Sox debut the next day. The ushering in of the No. 1 prospect in baseball and the Sox’ second baseman of the future also marked a symbolic moment in the organization’s full-scale rebuild.
Moncada is here, the Sox were saying, and there’s more talent in the pipeline lined up behind him, hopefully enough of it to erase nine consecutive years of disappointing baseball without a postseason before too long. Wednesday’s loss dropped the Sox to an American League-worst 38-54.
With losses becoming commonplace, this night was all about Moncada.
“I was excited with the way the fans treated me and how they were cheering me,’’ Moncada said after going 0-for-2 with a walk against Kenta Maeda his first time up that drew a roar from the 24,907 in attendance. “I was really happy with that at-bat and excited because of that atmosphere and excitement in the ballpark.”
After fielding a routine grounder to end struggling left-hander Carlos Rodon’s second inning, Moncada stepped up to the plate to a standing ovation. He took two strikes to fall behind 0-and-2, then demonstrated a sharp batting eye by taking enough close pitches to draw a full-count walk.
“He had some nice at-bats,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “Turned a double play. He looked comfortable.’’
The switch-hitting Moncada, 22, would ground out sharply to first in the fourth inning after giving the wanting crowd a jolt by lining a deep foul ball into the right-field corner. Against right-hander Ross Stripling, he lined a 2-0 pitch to center for the third out in the sixth.
The game was called after a 37-minute delay in the eighth inning, giving the Sox their season-high sixth consecutive loss. Rodon gave up four home runs.
Most of the crowd went home during the delay, but some waited, probably hoping to see Moncada bat again. There was that kind of buzz for him on this night.
Wearing No. 10, Moncada smiled at fans near the dugout who brought Twinkies, a wink toward his reputation for consuming them in large quantities. He was given a locker next to Abreu, who will probably try to curb Moncada’s appetite for the junk food.
The Cuban twosome hail from the same town, where Moncada grew up idolizing Abreu as a star player with Cienfuegos. They became close in spring training.
“I’m going to be here right by his side to help him with anything,’’ Abreu said.
Moncada texted Abreu about a ride from O’Hare, and Abreu did not hesitate because he wanted to “make sure he had direct contact with him and kind of lay the foundation,’’ Renteria said.
“There are high expectations. The reality is, he’s also continuing to evolve as a young player. He’s going to have his ups and downs. Everyone in the organization felt it was time. He’s a very gifted athlete.’’
Moncada was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2016. When the Red Sox called him up with no Class AAA experience, he played out of position at third base and went 4-for-19 with one RBI in eight games. He struck out 12 times.
“He’s definitely got a lot to learn at this level — it’s a different game up here whether you’re the best player in the world or not,’’ said veteran right-hander James Shields, who saw Moncada during spring training and a rehab stint at Charlotte. “But he put his time in at Triple-A and never complained about it. He went about his business in a professional manner. He can handle it. His maturity is off the charts. He’s ready to rock and roll.’’
RELATED STORIES
MORRISSEY: Rick Hahn is very, very busy proving his baseball smarts
Depleted, struggling White Sox trudge onward
