White Sox option struggling first baseman Andrew Vaughn to Triple-A Charlotte

The White Sox optioned struggling first baseman Andrew Vaughn to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

The team also optioned infielder Tim Elko to the minor league club and reinstated outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchman from the 10-day injured list prior to the game against the Texas Rangers.

The 27-year-old Vaughn, in his fifth season, is batting .189 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs in 48 games. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft, he hit .246 with 19 homers and 70 RBIs in 149 games last year.

“He’s a guy that needs to drive the baseball,” general manager Chris Getz said. “Can drive the baseball. So, I think he’s actually looking forward to taking a step back, slowing things down. It’s a different competition level, different environment. Really get to work and not make adjustments at a high level like the major leagues is.”

Elko was 5 for 31 with 3 homers and 5 RBIs over 10 games after being called up from Charlotte on May 10.

Benintendi was batting .224 with 5 home runs and 12 RBIs entering Friday's game. He has dealt with a variety of injuries, including a strained left calf that had sidelined him since May 4. He also missed much of spring training because of a broken right hand and spent time on the injured list in April because of a strained left adductor.

Tauchman opened the season on the injured list with a strained right hamstring and hurt it again running the bases on the final play in Chicago's 3-2 loss at Cleveland on April 9. He had appeared in just three games after signing with the White Sox in December. ___

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