Zach Remillard Makes it Count with White Sox

At least in this writer's mind, more praise about Zach Remillard's impact since his call-up to the big leagues needs saying. Remillard is a little-known prospect and career minor leaguer that the White Sox selected in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He reached free agency after last season, but re-signed with the White Sox on a minor-league deal. 

With many injuries to infielders who've missed extended time, Remillard finally got a shot and is making it count. I realize this is a small sample size, but I expected little impact from a 29-year-old draft pick from seven years ago.

In The Field

One aspect of Remillard's game worth discussing is his versatility. The small sample will tell you he could have performed better in certain spots. However, despite playing seven positions across the diamond in the minors, Remillard is primarily a third baseman and shortstop. 

At the hot corner, he expended most of his playing time (36%) in college and the minors, with shortstop being the next highest. The White Sox have consistently inserted him at second base, which may be his best defensive position. Nevertheless, the traditional and imperfect fielding percentage is .983 at the keystone, slightly above average. 

At The Dish

The offensive side of Remillard's game is where he has made his presence felt. Despite playing in only 20 games, he's slashing .333/.415/.404. Of course, this is a sample size consisting of only 67 plate appearances, but even more telling is the .463 BABIP. When his BABIP number normalizes to the mean, we will see a regression, but in the meantime, we'll take it.

One of the statistical highlights of Remillard's game is his ability to capitalize in clutch situations. With runners in scoring position (RISP), he has consistently delivered. In these situations, he boasts an impressive .667 (8-12) batting average and .750 on-base percentage, demonstrating his ability to come through when the team needs him most. His above-average 10.8% walk rate is a nice departure from what we typically expect from White Sox hitters.

What's On Tap Next?

Zach Remillard's impact on the Chicago White Sox is worth recognizing despite the small sample size. He's capable of making crucial defensive plays and delivering in clutch situations. With the White Sox likely to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline, Remillard will have more opportunities to prove he belongs in the big leagues.