Tyler Saladino Needs to Start at Shortstop

The Chicago White Sox need to turn to the young infielder and give him the nod.

Whether the White Sox signed Jimmy Rollins to be a mentor or play a significant amount of time this season is unknown. Signed right before spring training, the 37-year old shortstop is nearing the end of his career. Rollins has already said many times that he is embracing the mentor role this season, while manager Robin Ventura has also stated that he expects Rollins to make the team. There’s no doubt that Rollins should be on the 25-man roster, or else the signing was pointless. However, there will continue to be discussions about who the starting shortstop should be this season for the White Sox until it is seen.

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Rollins had a great career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he is way past his prime. He showed that last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a slash line of .224/.285/.358, all career-lows. Rollins also added 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases, and his 144 games played showed his surprising durability.

Despite the shortstop defying father time by still playing the game, it’s time for him to take a mentor role. Rollins will see his playing time, but Tyler Saladino should be the everyday starter.

In reality, the White Sox are trying to get through this year, and maybe next, at the shortstop position before Tim Anderson, their top prospect, is ready to be called up. Saladino may have a future as a backup on the team, or someone who is used for defensive purposes, but he’s not the shortstop of the future for the White Sox.

However, at only 26-years old, Saladino has a lot of baseball ahead of him. The White Sox organization only saw 254 plate appearances out of him, way too little to determine what type of major league player he has the potential to become.

His .225/.267/.335 slash line leaves a lot to be desired, putting it nicely. And the fact that his batting average and on-base-percentage declined throughout the second half of last season is troubling as well. He was also a rookie who saw time at six different batting spots in the order last season, ranging from the lead-off man to the ninth spot.

Jul 19, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Tyler Saladino (18) bats in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Saladino isn’t going to turn out to be the next Carlos Correa, or even Alexei Ramirez, although, it’s better to find out what you have in the young infielder now, before Tim Anderson is ready to take over the reigns and you’re not sure if he’s capable of being your backup.

At such a young age it’s not wishful thinking that another spring training, and off-season with the team will help Saladino prepare for this upcoming season. Besides, he was called up to the majors in the middle of July, not the easiest transition when you’ve been in the minors your entire career. Also, Rollins is now a year older than before and his numbers will most likely continue to decline.

Over the past five seasons, Rollins’ batting average and slugging percentage has declined by over forty points, and his on-base-percentage by more than fifty. The decline has happened for a while now, and it will only continue to as he gets older.

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The Sox may be losing a little in the field, but not much. As a rookie, Saladino made five errors and had a fielding percentage of .970, although all five errors came at third base. In his 11 games at second base, 63 innings, he didn’t record a single error. He showed the ability to play the hot corner last season, and play it well. It was his biggest complement and was the reason he continued to start at the end of the year.

Saladino also presents another threat on the base paths in the middle or near the end of the lineup. Rollins stole 12 bases in 20 attempts last season, in 144 games. While Saladino stole eight bases in ten attempts in less than half the amount of time. He is one of the fastest guys on the team, and having that speed besides Adam Eaton in the lineup will do wonders for a Sox team that added a lot of power hitters this off-season. He should be able to get close to 20-25 stolen bases in a full season, which would by far lead the team.

These next two seasons is just a bridge for the Tim Anderson era. The Sox may have messed up by not signing Ramirez to a one-year deal, or they may have hit gold by bringing in a former MVP to be a leader in the locker room and giving a shot to the youngster.

Next: Trevor Cahill Comfortable with the Cubs

68 games is way too small of a sample size to scout a young player, and Saladino should benefit from being with the team from the beginning. He’s not going to be the most feared bat in the lineup, however, his speed, bat, and fielding, all show signs that he can be a solid player in the majors. It’s time to let Rollins do what you brought him in to do and let Saladino do what you called him up for, start at shortstop.

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White Sox: Tyler Saladino Needs to Start at Shortstop

By Jeremy Karll | Mar 7, 2016

The Chicago White Sox need to turn to the young infielder and give him the nod.

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