White Sox continue to have weakness in right field

Before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox made a swap of bench players. They optioned infielder Jose Rodriguez to Double-A Birmingham and recalled outfielder Adam Haseley from Triple-A Charlotte.

The Rodriguez move makes sense. The 22-year-old was called up June 19, but he only appeared in one game -- as a pinch runner. Given that manager Pedro Grifol apparently had no intention of using him, Rodriguez is better off getting regular at-bats in Birmingham and continuing his development.

But why recall Haseley? The 27-year-old appeared in 26 games with the Sox earlier this season and slashed .222/.282/.278. His numbers in Charlotte are fine -- a .796 OPS in 35 games -- but that reflects exactly what Haseley is: a Quad-A outfielder.

He's another guy the Sox can toss into their right field mix, but there's no rational reason to believe Haseley can move the needle at a position that has been a perpetual weakness for years.

Right now, Gavin Sheets and Clint Frazier are forming a platoon in right field, with the lefty Sheets playing against right-handed pitching, and the righty Frazier playing against lefties. If the Sox have a lead late on days when Sheets is playing, Frazier comes in because he is the superior defensive player.

But the main problem is neither man has been hitting:

Sheets in the month of June: .195/.298/.317 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and only 2 doubles in 17 games

Frazier in the month of June: .147/.275/.177 with only 1 double and 1 RBI in 18 games

As a matter of fact, Frazier has more walks (6) than hits (5) this month, and he is without a homer on the season. Right field is supposed to be a power position. The Sox are getting nothing of the sort.

Remember what happened in the offseason? The Sox did not address right field, believing rookie Oscar Colas was ready to man the position. It didn't work out early, as Colas batted .211/.265/.276 with only one homer and seven RBIs in 25 games before being optioned.

Colas has an .823 OPS in 43 games in Triple-A Charlotte. That's good, not great. BUT ... since June 13, he's posted a slash line of .295/.354/.613. He's homered three times in the past two days. He went 8 for 19 on the Knights' most recent homestand.

There's still plenty of upside in the 24-year-old Colas. Why not give him another shot in right field while he's hot? Wouldn't that be a more inspired use of a roster spot than the journeyman Haseley?

White Sox trim spring training roster by 9

The White Sox on Sunday announced a series of roster moves that trim their spring training roster by nine players.

Catcher Carlos Perez and infielder Lenyn Sosa were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. Infielders Bryan Ramos and Jose Rodriguez were optioned to Double-A Birmingham. Outfielder Yoelquis Cespedes and pitchers Edgar Navarro, Nate Fisher, Andrew Perez and Sammy Peralta were optioned to minor league camp.

Most notable here is the optioning of Sosa, who saw some big league time in 2022 and was mentioned at one point as a possible starting second baseman.

The 23-year-old was 2 for 15 in the Cactus League with two RBIs. The good news is he didn't strike out in any plate appearances. The bad news is he also did not walk. He'll always be a free swinger, but a little more time in Triple-A should help Sosa make better swing decisions at the plate.

Ramos, a 21-year-old third baseman, is the No. 2 prospect in the Sox system. He had a good showing in camp, going 7 for 19 with a homer and five RBIs. Rodriguez is also a top-10 prospect in the Sox system, and he'll start at second base for Birmingham.

One wonders whether shortstop Colson Montgomery, the Sox's top prospect, will also end up in Double-A Birmingham. That would be an interesting starting infield for the Barons.