Yoan Moncada was a former No. 1 overall prospect who looked like he wasn’t going to live up to the hype – before a breakout 2019 baseball season with the Chicago White Sox. Here are two props available to wager at Mybookie on Moncada’s and the White Sox’s 2020 MLB season – assuming there is one – and an overview.
Yoan Moncada MLB Awards Odds & Analysis For 2020 Season
- AL MVP Award: Moncada is +1800
- Odds to win AL Central: White Sox are +275 second-favorites
Yoan Moncada was a young star in Cuba but left that country in June 2014 with permission of the Cuban government to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. On February 23, 2015, the Boston Red Sox reportedly agreed to terms with Moncada, for a signing bonus of $31.5 million.
Moncada was called up by Boston and made his major league debut on September 2, 2016, against the Oakland Athletics. In his first plate appearance, he walked and subsequently scored a run. He recorded his first major league hit the following day.
On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox traded Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz, to the Chicago White Sox for Chris Sale. The Red Sox won that trade until last season as Sale had been terrific and helped Boston win the 2018 World Series, but he’s breaking now and Moncada is looking like a star.
In 2018, Moncada played 149 games, finishing with a .235 batting average, 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 61 RBIs, and struck out an MLB-leading 217 times.
However, he broke out in 2019 to the tune of a .315/.367/.548 batting line with 25 home runs, 79 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 83 runs scored in 132 games. He came up as a second baseman but has settled in at third base a year ago.
Moncada was the only American League player, and one of three in MLB, to hit .300 with 30-plus doubles, 25-plus homers, 75-plus RBI and 10-plus stolen bases. The others were Arizona’s Ketel Marte and the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (who won NL MVP).
Moncada became the fourth White Sox player ever record a season of 30+ 2B/25+ HR/75+ RBI/10+ SB/.300+ AVG, joining Magglio Ordóñez (3x), Carlos Lee (1x) and Alex Rios (1x). Moncada’s +.080 increase in average from 2018 (.235 to .315) was the fourth-largest in Sox history behind Tim Anderson (+.096 from 2018-19), Frank Isbell (+.086 from 1904-05) and Luke Appling (+.081 from 1935-36).
Finally, Moncada hit.299/.345/.500 (46-154) vs. lefties in 2019 compared to .209/.287/.297 in 2018. He also ranked seventh overall in MLB with a 92.9 mph average exit velocity in 2019 and led the majors in September in average (.414) and hits (41).
Moncada overhauled his approach at the plate in 2019 compared to 2018. He swung more often (47.3% from 41.1%) without swinging and missing more often (31.1% both years). He also barreled up a greater percentage of his pitches (12.2% from 9.6%), meaning he was hitting balls on the “sweet spot” much more often. Moncada was in the 97th percentile for average exit velocity and 92nd percentile for hard hit percentage.
Moncada’s .373 average on ground balls led the league in 2019. He also led the league in BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) at .406, which was the highest single season BABIP in over 40 years. That’s not sustainable.
The White Sox rewarded Moncada this offseason with a five-year, $70 million contract extension with a $25 million club option for 2025. The deal covers all of Moncada’s arbitration-eligible years and possibly two years of free agency. It’ll came with a $70 million guarantee and can be worth up to $90 million.
