When news broke that both Tim Elko and Andrew Vaughn were being sent to Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox, it came as a bit of a surprise.
Elko had nothing left to prove in Triple-A and had only appeared in ten MLB games before getting demoted. While he hit just .161, he also tallied three homers and owned a .452 slugging percentage before the demotion.
Despite the setback, Elko maintained a positive attitude. White Sox No. 2 prospect Kyle Teel even credited him with playing a key role in his development this season. After being named the White Sox Prospect of the Month for May, Teel spoke with Charlotte Knights reporter Kendall Smith about Elko’s impact, highlighting his leadership and support in the clubhouse.
“When you’re around guys who have experience and you’re around guys that play the game and are really good at playing the game, I feel like I learn the most out of my teammates,” Teel told Smith. “Tim Elko for example, what it means to be a leader. That guy leads by example and everyone wants to be around him for that reason.”
From Triple-A Setback to Walk-Off Hero
Fast forward to Thursday — Elko was back in the big leagues after being recalled a day earlier following an injury to Lenyn Sosa. Meanwhile, Teel got the call every prospect dreams of: he was heading to Chicago to make his MLB debut.
Elko didn’t wait long to make his presence felt. Manager Will Venable slotted him in as the starting first baseman for the series finale against the Tigers. Though his day started rough — going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts — Elko delivered when it mattered most. With the game tied in the 10th inning, the 26-year-old ripped a Beau Brieske slider up the middle for a walk-off single, the first of his major league career.
TIM ELKO. BALLGAME. pic.twitter.com/lhs8LA3WKc
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 5, 2025
The ball left his bat at 104.1 mph, marking a fitting end to Elko’s day that reflected his recent journey.
“My first few at-bats definitely weren’t my best, but in baseball you’ve got to have a quick memory and learn from your mistakes, then move on to the next one,” Elko told reporters after the game. “So I was able to just kind of put one of those in the past and focus on the last at bat.”
With Teel on his way to Chicago and Sosa only on the 10-day IL, Elko’s time with the big-league club may be short-lived. But after being mobbed by teammates following his first MLB walk-off, it felt like a well-earned payoff for all the hard work he’s poured into this season in the minors.
