Chicago White Sox: 3 reasons to be excited for 2019

Joy for Eloy

One of the most talked about trades in Chicago sports in recent memory has been the deal that sent pitcher Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfielder Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, among others.

But make no mistake, Jimenez was the centerpiece of that deal, as the White Sox leveraged the Cubs desire to maximize their World Series window to acquire one of their top prospects.

In 2017, Jimenez shot up through the minor leagues, finishing the year at Class AA Birmingham. He began 2018 with the Barons before being called up to the Class AAA Charlotte Knights. He played in 108 games between AA and AAA and hit an eye-popping .337 with 22 HRs and 75 RBI, with a .384 OBP and a .577 SLG.

With those type of numbers, one might ask why Jimenez was never called up to the majors last year. Well, the answer is simple — service time. By leaving Jimenez at AAA, the White Sox gained an extra year of contractual control over him, much the same way the Cubs did with Kris Bryant. The decision led to a little animosity as his agents spoke publicly about the decision and Eloy even took to the Player’s Tribune to declare he was ready.

However, with that behind all parties involved, there is nothing standing in the way of Eloy joining the big league club this year, and boy will he be a welcomed addition. He adds instant pop and average to the middle of the order. His addition will also create a ton of buzz around the South Side and hopefully get more fans talking about this young, up and coming ballclub.