Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez ripped a line drive in the third inning Monday that looked like it was going to be an extra-base hit down the right-field line.
Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn dove and made a tremendous catch for the final out of the inning.
One inning later, Royals center fielder Drew Waters sent a hard-hit ball in Vaughn’s direction. Vaughn jumped as high as he could and made the catch.
After spending most of his first two major-league seasons in the outfield, Vaughn moved to his natural position of first base this year.
Vaughn told the Tribune last week he’s continuing to learn every day.
“(I’ve been) trying to get better at it since spring training,” he said. “(I’m) working with (infield coach) Eddie (Rodríguez), getting my reps in and picks and footwork around the bag. All sorts of stuff.”
Vaughn played 107 games in the outfield, mostly in left, and 15 at first base as a rookie in 2021. Last year, he played 84 games in the outfield (splitting time in right and left), served as the designated hitter in 29 games and appeared at first base in 23.
With José Abreu in Houston, Vaughn made the full-time move to first in 2023. He’s played 121 games at first and has been a DH in eight games. He has four errors and 832 total chances.
“I’ve seen him improve at first base this year,” manager Pedro Grifol said before Tuesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. “Just his confidence, his hands, his picks. I’ve seen him improve.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. He’s got the work ethic and we’ve got a good coach doing it. He’s going to continue to get better as this thing goes along and going into next year. Spring training is going to be critical, going to get a lot of work. He’s going to end up being a pretty damn good first baseman.”
Vaughn, 25, has been focusing on his footwork.
“Just being around the bag, helping the infielders out when they make a little off-line throw or a throw in the dirt, being able to get that ball and get that out,” Vaughn said.
He wants to continue improving that footwork around the bag, along with increasing his range as much as he can.
“And just catch everything that I can catch and help the infielders,” Vaughn said.
The team’s first-round pick in 2019 out of Cal, Vaughn entered Tuesday with a .252/.311/.419 slash line in 128 games.
He’s hit his career-high home runs with 18 after his solo shot in Tuesday’s game, after hitting 17 last season. And with 25 doubles and 70 RBIs, Vaughn is close to matching his career-best marks in those categories, too. He had 28 doubles and 76 RBIs in 2022.
Vaughn’s also approaching a career-high in games played. He played in 134 games last season and with Tuesday’s start is at 129 in 2023.
One thought entering the season was Vaughn would feel more fresh down the stretch than in the past seasons because he wouldn’t be on the move as much as when in the outfield.
“When you have to run him out there in the outfield, it’s obviously going to affect the body and you’re probably taking away from the one thing you’re expecting him to do, which is hit,” Grifol said.
Vaughn said a number of factors, including being more experienced, have contributed.
“I definitely feel fresh,” he said. “It’s still a grind of a season, we’re (139) games in. It’s a grind, you’ve just got to learn about yourself and do what you’ve got to do and be ready to go every day.
“You’ve just got to keep building off stuff. Learning what your body needs, what you’ve got to do to take care of it. Eating right, sleeping right, how to travel. You name it.”
Overall, Vaughn is enjoying the return to the infield.
“I enjoy being on the field no matter where I’m at,” Vaughn said. “Just being able to play.”
The Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced Tuesday. Ramírez, 28, is 1-0 with a 3.67 ERA, three holds and 31 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances during three stints with the Pirates this season.
He has a 6-4 record with a 3.83 ERA, six saves and 31 strikeouts in 97 career relief appearances in four major-league seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2020-22), Cleveland Guardians (2022) and Pirates (2022-23).
Ramírez will report to Triple-A Charlotte.
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