Sunday, December 14, 2025

White Sox Report Card: How Mike Tauchman Graded Out This Season

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The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be outfielder Mike Tauchman.

Tauchman joined the team in the offseason, as he was signed as a free agent in December. This was a good move by the White Sox, as he was a very solid baseball player with the Chicago Cubs since returning from the Korean Baseball Organization.

The White Sox desperately needed outfield help, as they haven’t been able to fill the right field position for quite a while now. Tauchman did just that, as he had one of the best seasons a White Sox right fielder has had in a long time. 

Tauchman had a great start to the season despite missing a month to start the year. Through Tauchman’s first 39 games, he was hitting .299 with an elite .398 OBP. This is exactly what the White Sox were looking for out of Tauchman, as he found a way to consistently get on base.

Overall, Tauchman hit .263 with a .356 OBP and a .756 OPS. He added nine homeruns, 40 RBIs, and 45 walks compared to just 86 strikeouts. This was a fantastic season for a White Sox right fielder, as he accumulated 1.9 WAR in just 93 games according to Baseball Reference. That is likely good for a 3-4 WAR over a full season, which is very close to all-star level.

Throughout the season, it seemed that Tauchman was dealing with a lower body injury, as it was apparent when he was in the field and on the bases. Despite that, he still played an average right field, as he graded out around the 50th percentile in all of Baseball Savant’s fielding categories.

Tauchman drew a ton of trade talk around the deadline, as he is 34 and could have helped out a contending team, but the White Sox opted to keep him, as he seems to be a good veteran presence in the clubhouse with all the young players the White Sox have.

There is still a chance he is on the move in the offseason, but I would assume he starts the year in Chicago, as he could keep the right field spot warm for top hitting prospect Braden Montgomery.

This was a great season for Tauchman and I would grade it out as an A-. If Tauchman can replicate this type of season next year, he will be a great presence at the top of the lineup for the White Sox.

Craig Rowland
Craig Rowland
Craig is a former college baseball player and currently a practicing attorney. He is a lifelong White Sox fan and has been covering the team for Sports Mockery since 2022. Prior to Sports Mockery, Craig started the White Sox podcast "A Seat At The Table" while completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois.

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