Tim Elko’s Patience Paying Off—And Forcing a Decision in Chicago

With Andrew Vaughn struggling at the plate, the calls to promote Tim Elko have grown louder. White Sox general manager Chris Getz met with reporters ahead of the White Sox six-game homestand on Wednesday and dropped a hint that the 26-year-old could be joining the big league club soon. 

“Tim’s hitting the ball very hard, actually harder than he’s always hit it, and most importantly, how often he is doing it. I believe he’s certainly leading the organization in home runs, and he’s at the top in minor league baseball,” Getz said. “We’re really happy with the development of Tim and know at some point, you know, he could join us in Chicago.” 

Elko has certainly put pressure on the organization for a promotion. In his first 100 plate appearances, the 6’3 first baseman has clubbed nine homers, driven in 20 runs, and is slashing .356/.430/.713. However, the most encouraging sign has been his improved plate discipline. 

Getz on Elko pic.twitter.com/W6C5KBNoEn

— Kyle W (@K_Williamsmedia) April 29, 2025

Elko has always hit the ball hard, but often expands the strike zone, which led to a 29 percent strikeout rate last season. One of the biggest reasons for this was a high chase rate. In 2024, he swung at nearly 32 percent of pitches out of the zone. This season, he has cut that down to just 27 percent, which is still high but a significant improvement. 

Meanwhile, Vaughn, who is supposed to be one of the White Sox leading run producers,  is off to a painfully slow start, slashing .160/.204/.274 with three homers and 11 RBIs. However, there are signs that Vaughn can turn his season around.

Despite the poor offensive numbers, Vaughn has hit the ball hard. His barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, and average exit velocity all rank in the top 20 percent of the MLB.  However, part of the issue is that much of this contact has been on the ground. 

Vaughn currently owns a career-high 47.6% ground ball rate. When he does get the ball in the air, it is often to the opposite field, which mitigates his power. Vaughn is pulling the ball in the air at just a 15% clip compared to a 26.8% mark to the opposite field. 

When Vaughn has been successful this season, it has been when he pulls the ball. Of his 17 hits this season, only two have been to right field. 

It’s only a matter of time before Elko gets his opportunity. He is already 26 years old and has proven he can rake in Triple-A. With the clock ticking, the pressure is on Vaughn to step up.