CHICAGO — Over here on the home side of Guaranteed Rate Field (worst ballpark name ever), Rick Hahn voiced optimism about Blake Rutherford.
“He came in with a goal of wanting to hit for more power this year and unfortunately got off to a slower start at Double-A,” Hahn, the White Sox general manager, said of the outfielder. “He’s young for his age [22]. All the athleticism and skills are still there. Frankly, we’re not too concerned after two months of struggling at an advanced level.”
Hahn of course shouldn’t give up on Rutherford, the Yankees’ first-round choice (18th overall) of the 2016 amateur draft whom they dealt to the Chisox as the centerpiece of a 2017 deal that made Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson (again) Yankees.