KANSAS CITY -- More than a few potential long-term solutions for the White Sox have arrived at the big league level this year, but Friday night was the first time the club got to watch them all take the infield at the same time.
First baseman Miguel Vargas, second baseman Chase Meidroth, shortstop Colson Montgomery and third baseman Curtis Mead all took the infield for the first time in Chicago’s 3-1 loss to Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. Lenyn Sosa, who will split time with Mead at first base for the rest of 2025, was also in the lineup at designated hitter.
Injuries to Vargas and Meidroth this month delayed the South Siders from seeing what their infield could look like for the foreseeable future, but Friday was a positive reminder that the next wave of White Sox are already gaining valuable experience.
“It’s been collaborative, and I think we’re still trying to figure out where this group needs to be as far as [the] lineup and stuff,” manager Will Venable said pregame about giving everyone playing time. “We add Mead to the group, it’s the first time he’s been in the lineup with Vargas and Meidroth, so what does that mean for our infield?
“I think bringing back Meidroth and Vargas without a rehab assignment, they’ve missed time, right? So we will have to see where they are at. We [have] Meidroth in the eight hole today, that speaks to that a little bit. We are still very much figuring out how this group is going to work together. So I think it’s great to have everybody healthy, and now we have to go out and play and figure each other out again.”
Meidroth was reinstated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday’s game, and although he had hit first or second in the lineup in 73 of his 84 games this season, Venable put Vargas and Mead atop the order for the opener.
Meidroth got off to a hot start, posting a .349 and .345 on-base percentage in May and June, respectively, but that number dipped to .276 over 23 games in July. He went 0-for-3 in his return Friday, but made a few nice plays defensively -- including a slick stop on a 103.4 mph grounder from Bobby Witt Jr. in the eighth -- in addition to bringing his focused attitude back to the clubhouse.
“We see what [his] at-bats look like, he likes being in the box and the challenge of going up against another pitcher,” Venable said. “Just the competitive spirit really sticks out for me. He’s somebody that we’ve been able to put right in there from the beginning. He’s just brought our group to another level.”
Recently, that level has been reached by Montgomery, who has hit 10 homers since July 22 and has tallied the second most RBIs in the Majors since the All-Star break (26). His single in the sixth put the tying run on third base with one out, but the White Sox were unable to capitalize.
Mead led off that inning with a single, as Vargas, Mead and Montgomery combined for five of the White Sox seven hits on Friday night.
Mead, who earned his extended look at the big league level when Vargas went down with a left oblique strain on Aug. 3, was acquired from Tampa Bay in the Adrian Houser trade. In 10 games with Chicago, he’s reached base at a .361 clip and has played solid defense at third.
Vargas, who has split time between first and third this season, is having a career year with personal bests in home runs (13), doubles (25), RBIs (44) and batting average (.228) while logging 100 games in a single season for the first time in his four-year career.
Chicago’s only run Friday was a solo homer from Sosa in the fourth, his team-leading 15th deep fly this season -- one shy of doubling up his previous personal best. Catcher Edgar Quero also singled and walked, and is batting .272 with a .717 OPS in his first 77 career games.
Seeing a trend? That’s five position players aged 25 or younger in the infield dirt at the same time -- in addition to Sosa -- not only gaining experience, but proving their worth as Major Leaguers.
The White Sox retooled their roster after the 2024 season, and although 2025 hasn’t gone the way the club wanted in the win-loss column, there’s no denying the foundation that’s been laid for 2026 and beyond.
“We prepare every year to improve and surpass what we did the year before,” Sosa said through interpreter Billy Russo. “When you’re able to do that, that means all the work that you’ve been putting in with your preparation, your routine, it’s paying off. It means a lot.”