So it turns out Luisangel Acuña isn’t a switch-hitter after all.
After video circulated of Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz calling Acuña a switch-hitter multiple times, he released a statement correcting himself.
“So I probably have been getting carried away describing his versatility,” Getz said Thursday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. “He can play every position on the field. Why does it have to stop there? I called Luisangel and told him that even though he’s just right-handed, we still love him.”
Chicago is surely still getting to know Acuña, as it acquired him via trade from the New York Mets in January. The White Sox sent Luis Robert Jr. to the National League East team in the deal and also landed pitcher Truman Pauley.
Acuña is versatile, as he appeared in games at second base, shortstop, third base and center field for the Mets last season.
But that versatility is limited to the field.
He didn’t provide much offense on the right-handed side of the plate in 2025, slashing .234/.293/.274 with zero home runs and eight RBI. However, he did show off his speed on the basepaths with 16 steals.
Getz’s comments calling Acuña a switch-hitter weren’t the only mistake from the White Sox this offseason regarding one of their new players.
They also spelled new signee Munetaka Murakami’s name wrong:
Ideally for Chicago, things will start to go better once the team is on the field and starting games. It certainly hasn’t of late, though, as the White Sox have lost more than 100 games in each of the last three seasons.
Acuña will look to help them bounce back in 2026 as a utilityman who can start across the infield or in the outfield and allow manager Will Venable to mix and match his lineup based on the opposition.