Moncada reflects on imperfect first half of season with White Sox

With the all-star break approaching, Chicago White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada gave a near perfect summation of his first half of the season.

"It hasn't been as good as I wanted it to be," Moncada said through Sox translator Billy Russo Friday. "But it hasn't been as bad as you can think."

At times over the White Sox's trying first half, Moncada showed why he was voted Baseball America's Minor-League Player of the Year in 2016.

There was the 6 RBI game against the A's on June 24. The three seven-game hitting streaks.

Along with the Cubs' Javier Baez, the Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi and the Rockies' Trevor Story, Moncada is the only player in the game with 15 or more doubles, 5 or more triples, 10 or more home runs and 40 or more RBI before the break.

In Friday night's game against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field, Moncada's patient approach at the plate paid off with a career-high 3 walks, which he drew in the first, second and third innings.

"It has been a challenging first half, but I've been learning a lot and working," Moncada said. "I think the second half is going to be much better."

While there have been flashes of stardom, the 23-year-old Moncada certainly has room to improve.

Shots have been taken at the switch-hitter on social media about strikeouts. Starting pitcher Chris Sale, who the White Sox traded to the Red Sox for Moncada, leads the major leagues with 188 strikeouts.

Heading into Friday's play, Moncada was tied with Texas' Joey Gallo for the most strikeouts (129) in baseball.

Moncada has really struggled from the right side of the plate, batting .160 with no homers, 3 RBI and 28 strikeouts in 75 at-bats.

"You won't always be good on both sides," he said. "Sometimes you feel better hitting from the left side. Sometimes you feel better hitting from the right side. The challenge is to understand that you need to feel comfortable as you can on both sides of the plate. You need to keep working on both sides the same amount of time. You can't pick or choose one side or the other."

Moncada said he's been a switch-hitter since the age of 5, when his father Manuel taught him in Cuba.

Defense has been the other big issue.

Moncada can make spectacular plays to his right and left, but he often fails to focus on groundballs hit right at him.

Against Kansas City Friday, he botched a routine double-play grounder in the third inning that led to 2 unearned runs. His his 15 errors are the most in baseball at second base.

"There are balls you have to be able to fundamentally, soundly receive," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "The balls you receive and catch to the backhand side or the forehand side, they will take care of themselves. It's just about making sure he shows a consistent approach and understands the reality of the importance of being able to take all the outs you can get that are fundamentally available to you and let the great plays take care of themselves."