Yoan Moncada's June was the best month of his professional career

Yoan Moncada

The White Sox have three players headed to Cleveland for the All-Star Game on July 9: Lucas Giolito, James McCann and Jose Abreu.

That's a pretty good haul for a team with a 39-42 record at the season's midpoint. Giolito is the Sox's best pitcher, and he's more than deserving. McCann has been the Sox's best position player, and he's also deserving.

Abreu might have been chosen based upon name recognition. Yes, his 19 home runs and 60 RBIs put him on a very nice pace for the season. However, his .268/.309/.508 slash line puts him below his career norms in all three categories. This is just an OK season for Abreu, not really an All-Star-caliber one.

If a third player from the Sox is deserving, wouldn't it have to be Yoan Moncada? The 24-year-old has changed positions this season, moving from second base to third base. Frankly, he's a better third baseman than he was a second baseman.

But a third baseman needs to hit for more power, you say? I'd say Moncada's doing a pretty good job at the plate. His slash line for the season is .304/.357/.528. He's got 33 extra-base hits -- 16 doubles, 14 home runs and three triples -- to go along with 44 RBIs. His strikeout total at the halfway point of the season sits at 87, so he likely will not strike out 217 times again -- as he did in 2018.

Remember, Moncada's slash line last season was .235/.315/.400. If it weren't for Giolito, we'd be talking about him being the most improved player on the roster.

And here's Moncada's June: .381/.435/.667 with five doubles, four home runs, a triple and 15 RBIs in 18 games.

Let's hope Moncada's second half is every bit as good as his first.