White Sox outfield situation getting messy without injured Munetaka Murakami

The white-sox" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chicago White Sox‘s three outfielders, left fielder Tristan Peters, center fielder Edgar Quero, and right fielder Rikuu Nishida, were listed as the bottom three batters in Monday’s batting order.

For all that has gone right for the rebuilding franchise this season, outfield production remains one of the team’s problems entering June. Two seasons removed from a 121-loss campaign, the power trio of Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas, along with AL Cy Young candidate Davis Martin, emerged to provide the White Sox with a promising core.

Picked by many MLB insiders to place last in the AL Central, the White Sox provided shock treatment by powering their way to a second-place standing. They entered the start of Monday’s series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field one game behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians, who have their own offensive issues.

With Murakami sustaining a hamstring injury Saturday and landing on the injured list, the White Sox likely will need their current outfielders to begin picking up the offensive slack.

• Peters, in 56 games, was batting .289, but with his speed and bat control, the second-year big leaguer would be more effective in the top two spots in the order.

• Rookie left fielder Sam Antonacci was hitting .275, but had just one homer in 42 games.

• Reserve center fielder Luisangel Acuna was hitting .165 with more strikeouts (21) than hits (17).

Peters, in 56 games, was batting .289, but with his speed and bat control, the second-year big leaguer would be more effective in the top two spots in the order.

Rookie left fielder Sam Antonacci was hitting .275, but had just one homer in 42 games.

Reserve center fielder Luisangel Acuna was hitting .165 with more strikeouts (21) than hits (17).

Another candidate includes recent acquisition Randal Grichuk, who hit .300 in the first 18 games with the White Sox after being released by the New York Yankees in April. In his first 18 games with the White Sox, the 34-year-old right fielder hit .333 with four home runs. He could press for more playing time with Murakami sidelined.

The White Sox, who ranked fourth in the league with 80 home runs, may have shocked the big leagues with their power start, but unless their outfield play begins to produce consistently, the prospect of surpassing the Guardians could prove too daunting.