KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What kind of third baseman will Yoan Moncada be? Limited to the first game of a 162-game season, the answer is a pretty good one.
It's pointless to try to draw wide-ranging, long-term conclusions on Opening Day, but in what was otherwise a gloomy performance by the White Sox in a 5-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Moncada was a silver lining in his first regular-season game at his new position.
Obviously, Moncada played the position before Thursday's season-opener. He came up as a third baseman with the Boston Red Sox and played five major leagues there back in 2016. He spent the entire spring playing third base after the White Sox missed out on Manny Machado in free agency. This wasn't exactly his first rodeo.
But it was the first time White Sox fans and observers got to see him there in a meaningful contest, and the results were good. After making 21 errors at second base in 2018, one of the highest totals in the big leagues, the question was whether Moncada could simply do a better job at third than he did at second. Thursday, he showed he might be able to surprise some people. He might be better than better. He might be pretty good at this.
Moncada made all the plays that came his way, and he made a few plays that made you go "nice." They might or might not have been highlight-reel plays. But they were good ones, plays that involved fielding the ball and throwing on the run. And he made them. He looked good.
"He’s pretty good. He made some plays, I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone else makes," manager Rick Renteria said after Thursday's game. "And we’ve been saying that since spring training. A component of his athleticism, his first step off the ball on contact is really, really good. It’s special. And his ability to throw on the run and in different positions. I hope it’s a sign of things to come at third base."
That'd be real good news for the White Sox, who moved Moncada from second to third with hopes that he would be in a better position to succeed. There's the element of what's coming, yes, with Nick Madrigal talked of as a future Gold Glove caliber defender at second. But the White Sox think Moncada's position switch could even help him at the plate, where he struggled last season.
MLB
Of course, there was a lot of offseason work in the offensive department, too. Whether related or unrelated, Moncada was the only White Sox hitter to reach base twice Thursday, 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.
But his defense is what stood out. In a good way. Perhaps a resurgent season from the former No. 1 prospect in baseball involves surprising some people at the hot corner.
"His athleticism is the same as (it was) at second. There’s just a lot more going on at third, and there are more plays like those coming forward like today that he’s able to make because he’s so athletic and quick to the ball," Renteria said. "And he’s got the ability to throw from different angles. He’s pretty good, and I hope moving forward, he’s as special guy over there."
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device.