Sox’s Andrew Vaughn (25) and Eloy Jimenez, right, celebrate after scoring in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Detroit.

Duane Burleson/AP

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jose Abreu isn’t walking through the clubhouse doors anymore.

But during Abreu’s ninth and final season with the Sox, Andrew Vaughn subtly developed into a clutch hitter who could help alleviate the loss of the 2020 American League MVP.

“Jose was a phenomenal guy,” Vaughn said Wednesday before the Sox’ game with the Giants at Scottsdale was rained out. “He showed up and posted. He made younger guys want to be like that. It was tough to see him go. But now we got to beat up on him.”

Vaughn and the Sox will get to see how far they must climb when they open the season March 30 against the defending champion Astros and a lineup fortified by the addition of Abreu, 36, who ended a storied career with the Sox by joining Houston after agreeing to a three-year, $58 million contract.

Individually, Vaughn, 24, started to make strides toward becoming a productive hitter on a big stage. He gained notice during his rookie season by hitting a game-tying home run off formidable closer Aroldis Chapman on May 23, 2021, at Yankee Stadium.

But he became more productive and reliable with runners on base after his rookie season when his batting average dipped to .210 in the second half.

In 2022, Vaughn increased his batting average with runners in scoring position from .196 to .339, and his batting average with the bases loaded swelled from .182 to .583 (7-for-12 with …read more

Source:: Chicago Sun Times