What is the best way to evaluate Yoan Moncada’s season after it was impacted by COVID-19? 4 questions about the Chicago White Sox third base position heading into 2021.

This is the sixth in a series of position-by-position analyses of the Chicago White Sox following the 2020 season.

Here are four questions about the third base position.

1. What’s the best way to evaluate Yoan Moncada’s season?

Yoan Moncada is one of the top hitters in the Sox lineup. But COVID-19 had a major impact on his 2020 season.

Moncada tested positive for COVID-19 before the start of summer camp in early July. He received clearance to return July 16, a few days before the start of the season July 24.

Moncada played in 52 of 60 games, but his slash line dropped to .225/.320/.385 this season from .315/.367/.548 in 2019.

Moncada addressed the effects of COVID-19 before a Sept. 3 game against the Kansas City Royals.

“It’s like a daily battle to try to find that strength, that energy to go through the day,” Moncada said through an interpreter. “But that’s something that I have to deal with, and it is what it is. I have to find a way to get through it.”

Sox general manager Rick Hahn gave this update and assessment on Oct. 12.

“I’m at least happy to be able to say every test we’ve given him, from EKGs to vitamin levels, to every scan for blood or picture-wise, CT scan-wise, has come back normal. That’s good,” Hahn said. “There doesn’t seem to be any physiological damage to him, which is obviously a good starting point. ...

“For him to do what he did, and obviously it wasn’t your typical Yoan Moncada season and certainly not what we foresee him doing in the future. But it really took a hell of an effort by him and by our trainers and our physicians just to keep him going at that level.”

2. What were some of the other indicators Moncada wasn’t able to make his usual impact?

Despite missing a portion of summer camp, Moncada had a strong start to the season with three three-hit games in the first nine games.

He hit home runs in consecutive games Aug. 16-17 but didn’t homer again until Sept. 25. The 29-game homerless stretch was the longest of his career.

The power returned with a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a Sept. 26 victory against the Cubs.

“It was a very long drought and it felt good, I won’t lie to you,” Moncada said of ending the streak.

He also had three RBIs that night, marking his first game with more than one RBI since Aug. 18.

“I’ve been feeling better for the last two weeks, more energy, better overall,” Moncada added. “I am still having the effects of the corona(virus) but I feel better and every day I feel like my energy level is improving.”

Hahn pointed to a Sept. 24 game against the Indians in Cleveland as another example. Moncada led off the seventh with a triple and scored on a Yasmani Grandal grounder.

Television cameras caught manager Rick Renteria fanning Moncada with a towel when he returned to the bench.

“In the dugout, he couldn’t catch his breath,” Hahn said Oct. 12. “It wasn’t an emergency, but it was of concern. Ricky was over there and trainers were over there, and he just couldn’t catch his breath. This is a 25-year-old athlete, world-class athlete with world-class medical care, and he was feeling the effects of it.”

3. What are reasonable expectations for Moncada in 2021?

At full strength, there’s no reason to doubt Moncada can be one of the top third basemen in the American League.

He showed that in 2019, when he finished third in the league with a .315 average and set career highs in home runs (25) and RBIs (79).

Moncada and the Sox came to terms on a five-year, $70 million deal during spring training. On March 6, the day the terms were announced, Hahn said: “If he winds up being the same guy he was last year (2019), that’s a pretty darn good player and one that certainly deserves MVP consideration, as he got in 2019.”

That was before baseball’s pause because of the pandemic and before Moncada tested positive as summer camp was set to begin.

Asked about the potential long-term impact on Oct. 12, Hahn said: “We don’t know, but we’re optimistic based on where he is physiologically that he’ll be OK come next spring, get some rest this offseason and recover, ramp up the training under a strict protocol and go get 'em next year hopefully.”

4. Which players can fill in if Moncada needs a day off?

The Sox’s 40-man roster includes players with the flexibility to fill in at various spots in the infield.

Danny Mendick made three starts at third base in 2020 and Yolmer Sanchez made four.

Sanchez, who rejoined the team in late August after some time with the San Francisco Giants organization, is arbitration-eligible.

Leury Garcia made one start at third in 2018 and 2019. The Sox hold a team option on the versatile infielder/outfielder.

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