Andrew Vaughn continues to torment the city of Chicago.
After spending parts of five seasons on the South Side, frustrating White Sox fans by never living up to his first-round pedigree, he’s now tormenting the North Side as well. In his short stint with Milwaukee, Vaughn has helped the Brewers clinch the NL Central and is playing a key role in helping push the Cubs to the brink of elimination in the NLDS.
After jumping to a quick 3-0 lead in a pivotal Game 2, the Cubs quickly saw their cushion evaporate when Vaughn connected on a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the first that sent American Family Field into a frenzy.
Resurgence in Milwaukee
After a June trade sent Vaughn to Milwaukee in exchange for Aaron Civale, who has since been claimed off waivers by the Cubs, clips of the former White Sox first baseman delivering clutch hits for the Brewers have continued to harass Sox fans.
Vaughn’s production surged after the midseason trade. His WAR jumped from -0.5 in 48 games with the White Sox to 1.3 in 63 games as a Brewer. His slash line saw a similar boost, climbing from .248/.303/.407 on the South Side to .308/.375/.493 in Milwaukee. Though his 14 home runs marked a career low, nine came in a Brewers uniform. He also drove in 65 runs, a total that would have ranked second on the White Sox, trailing only Lenyn Sosa.
The surprise resurgence has been frustrating for White Sox fans who spent four-plus seasons watching Vaughn roll into inning-ending double plays. Not only did a trade 90 miles north give Vaughn a change of scenery, it also gave him a sense of urgency.
From Top Prospect to Trade Chip
Since being selected third overall in the 2019 draft, Vaughn’s career saw a steady downward trend with the White Sox. After spending his first two seasons adjusting to right field—a position outside his natural role—Vaughn found more success in 2023 when he was moved back to first base. That year, he posted his best season yet, slashing .258/.314/.429 with a career-high 21 home runs and 80 RBIs.
However, Vaughn was unable to build on his 2023 success. He posted a .699 OPS in 2o24, followed by a steep decline to a .531 mark this year, along with a career-high 22.3% strikeout rate. Through his first 48 games of the season, he slashed just .189/.218/.314, prompting the White Sox to option him to Triple-A Charlotte, where his struggles continued, hitting just .211 before the trade.
Vaughn’s sharp decline in performance made it increasingly clear that he no longer figured into the White Sox’s long-term plans. With just one year of team control remaining, the front office faced limited trade value this offseason, making Vaughn a clear non-tender candidate. He ended his tenure in Chicago with a .248/.303/.407 slash line, 77 home runs, 293 RBIs, and a -0.4 WAR over parts of five seasons, putting his MLB future in jeopardy.
A Change Of Scenery
While those numbers were an eyesore, his draft pedigree was enough for the Brewers to take a flier on him. Metrics also showed he had run into some bad luck before getting traded. His 13.3% barrel rate with the White Sox in 2025 was the highest of his career, while his hard-hit rate of 48.3% ranked in the top third of the MLB.
The biggest change that Vaughn made since joining the Brewers was pulling the ball in the air more. His 18% pull air rate is not only the highest of his career, but it’s also higher than the league average of 16.7%. This is not only better than league average, but it is a leap from the 14% mark he averaged in his first four seasons in the MLB. As a result, his expected batting average, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and weighted on-base percentage have all seen a significant jump from a season ago.
The White Sox decision to trade Vaughn was the right move at the time. But with a hole at first base, watching him rake in a different jersey does feel bittersweet.
