Chicago White Sox: Bold predictions for 2018 season

1. Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito earn first career All-Star Game Selections

Two former top prospects. Two franchise cornerstones. Two second-year players.

Now two All-Stars?

Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito both made their White Sox debuts during the second-half of last season. Both had ups and downs. But most importantly, both showed serious flashes of future stardom.

Moncada struggled at first, hitting .105 in July, and .238 in August. However, Moncada had a huge September, hitting .274 with five home runs and 11 RBIs.

Moncada needs to tone it down with the strikeouts (Moncada still struck out 30 times in 95 at-bats in September), but who’s to say that his linear progression doesn’t continue through 2018?

Moncada had a solid Spring Training, hitting .271 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 59 at-bats. Moncada stole three bases on three attempts, and drew eight walks.

Yoan Moncada improved as an all-around player during the offseason, and that was apparent during Spring Training.

Meanwhile on the bump, Lucas Giolito put together a great second-half on the South Side.

The 23 year-old righty notched a 2.38 ERA in seven starts after his call-up in August.

A big key to Giolito’s success was his control, as he walked just 12 batters in 45 innings. Giolito also missed bats frequently, logging 34 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .190 batting average.

Giolito somehow managed to up his production in spring training, recording a 2.04 ERA in four starts, striking out 17 batters in 17 innings.

Giolito’s increased control, experience, and opportunity to flourish on a young staffs the perfect mix for a breakout season.