Yolbert Sanchez Could Fill Second Base Hole

The White Sox have a hole at second base that 24-year-old Yolbert Sanchez hopes to fill in the not too distant future.

“Right now, my confidence level is very high,” Sanchez said. “It was high throughout the season in High-A and Double-A. The good results helped to strengthen that confidence level and I’m proving to myself that I’m able to play with the best players and the best prospects. I think I can be one of them.”

After hitting .308/.352/.419 with nine home runs in 99 games High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Sanchez was assigned to the Arizona Fall League and continued to impress.

“A beautiful experience,” he said.

Playing for Glendale, Sanchez batted a team-high .387 in 11 games and finished with a 1.053 OPS.

Signed out of Cuba for $2.5 million in 2019, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Sanchez is settling in as a second baseman. He can also play shortstop and third base.

“My defense was very solid this year,” Sanchez said. “That’s something that I take a lot of pride in. I just need to keep being consistent with my glove.”

After hitting a sturdy .343 in 39 games in pitcher-friendly Double-A South to close the season, Sanchez could open 2022 with Triple-A Charlotte. From there, Chicago would be a phone call away.

“That’s my goal,” Sanchez said. “I try to not think about it. I like to keep things simple, just do the best that I can do wherever I am playing, be the best player I can be, be the best teammate I can be.

“So far, that has been a good thing for me. That has kept me humble and focused on the stuff I need to work on and improve.”

Chicago’s vacancy at the keystone was created when it traded promising young second baseman Nick Madrigal to the Cubs last July to acquire Craig Kimbrel. Madrigal’s replacement was trade deadline pickup Cesar Hernandez, but his $6 million option for 2022 was declined after he failed to produce.

CHI-LITES

— Chicago added Triple-A Charlotte righthander Jason Bilous and lefthander Bennett Sousa to the 40-man roster in November to exempt them from the Rule 5 draft.

— After playing nine MLB games with the Giants in 2020, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe is back with the White Sox on a minor league contract.