This Day In Sox History 2/5...

[Lip Man 1]

March 5, 1967 – In what was believed to be a first, the White Sox got permission from Major League Baseball to try an experimental DH rule in spring training games. If both clubs agreed to it before the contest started, a pinch-hitter would be allowed to hit twice. It’s not known if the Sox ever followed through with this experiment in a game.

 

March 5, 2020 - Coming off of a 25-homer season, Yoan Moncada signed a five-year, 70- million-dollar contract extension. The deal followed extensions given to Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert without either young star ever having played a game in the majors. Moncada’s situation better resembled that of Cuban countryman Robert, in that both were signed to enormous bonuses to leave Cuba, in Moncada’s case 31.5 million by the Red Sox.

Moncada struggled to meet his 2019 greatness in 2020, contracting COVID at the start of summer camp and battling fatigue over the 60-game season. However, he bounced back for a very solid season in 2021 holding down third base and providing  good offensive numbers…14 home runs, 61 RBI’s, 33 doubles, 74 runs and 84 walks. 2022 was an injury filled year that saw him only play in 104 games and hit .212 putting his career at a crossroads. He only played in 92 games in 2023 and 12 games in 2024. After that year he was released by the franchise and he eventually signed with the Angels.