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Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Tim Elko makes his major-league debut with the Chicago White Sox: ‘A lot of hard work came to fruition'
Tim Elko carpooled to Rate Field on Saturday with pitcher Jonathan Cannon. 'It's nice to have him and some of the other guys in here that I've already been around a lot,' Elko said. The familiar faces helped Elko get accustomed to his new surroundings as the first baseman prepared for his major-league debut with the Chicago White Sox against the Miami Marlins. 'Walking in (the clubhouse) and seeing the layout and everything and just getting a feel for being here is a pretty cool feeling,' Elko said. The Sox officially called up Elko on Saturday from Triple-A Charlotte, where he was on a tear at the plate. Reports first surfaced of the move on Friday. In Saturday's corresponding move, the Sox designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment. Elko is slashing .348/.431/.670 with six doubles, 10 home runs, 23 RBIs and 20 runs in 31 games with the Knights. He leads all of minor-league baseball in OPS (1.101), is tied for the lead in home runs, ranks second in slugging percentage and third in total bases (75). 'Obviously excited about the potential offensively and defensively,' Sox manager Will Venable said. 'And he also makes a huge impact in the clubhouse. 'He just is always positive. And works extremely hard. So, absolutely a credit to him for continuing to put in the work and it has paid off.' The Sox selected Elko in the 10th round of the 2022 draft out of Mississippi. He has a career .293/.348/.495 slash line with 58 doubles, 61 home runs, 218 RBIs and 179 runs in 325 games during four minor-league seasons (2022-25) in the Sox organization. 'The goal was always to become a professional baseball player and play in the MLB,' Elko said. 'It was always in the back of my head. But always just try to be where my feet are. I always enjoyed my time at Ole Miss and winning a national championship down there and now it's time to help the White Sox win some games here.' Since 2023, Elko ranks first among minor-league leaders in hits (344) and games (301), is second in total bases (578), fourth in RBIs (202) and batting average (.297) and tied for eighth in home runs (56). 'He's a competitor, he's played well throughout the minor leagues,' Sox director of player development Paul Janish said during a videoconference call last week. 'We talked about earning promotions, and that's what he's done throughout the minor leagues. 'Just can't say enough about the kid, the makeup of the player. And the numbers on the field speak for themselves.' Elko, 26, spread the credit around. 'Just a lot of help from people around me,' Elko said. 'Got (Charlotte hitting coach) Jim (Rickon) and (Knights bench coach Angel Rosario) and (Sox director of hitting Ryan) Fuller and so many people to thank that have helped me along this journey and this year and just kind of getting me locked in on pitch decisions and what sort of pitches to do damage to.' Elko earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month honors for March/April after slashing .367/.448/.711 with nine home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.159 OPS in 25 games. He reached base safely in 23 of those contests, hitting safely in 21. That success drummed up strong support online. 'I try to stay off social media as much as I can, but I saw some of the stuff on Twitter — it's pretty cool, to have support like that's a pretty cool feeling,' Elko said. Elko received the news that he would be joining the Sox from Charlotte manager Sergio Santos before Friday's game. 'It's been pretty fun, just getting texts from friends and family,' Elko said. 'Sorry if I haven't responded to some people. But it's been awesome. Just thankful for everybody and great opportunity and ready to go.' The Sox had Elko at first base and in the No. 8 slot of the lineup Saturday. He flied out to shallow center leading off the third inning in his first at-bat. Andrew Vaughn was the designated hitter and hit a solo home run in the first inning, his second in as many games. Venable said the plan for the two will involve 'mixing and matching' between first base and DH. 'There (are also) going to be times where (Miguel) Vargas might be at first base,' Venable said. 'So, I think we are going to take this day by day. But you (can) expect to see both Tim and (Vaughn) at first base.' Elko said part of Venable's message was 'keep doing what I'm doing and play hard.' 'I feel like a lot of hard work came to fruition,' Elko said of being called up. 'Just excited to get here and start my journey.' Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was not in Saturday's starting lineup as he dealt with 'some soreness in his right knee,' according to Venable. 'With all these guys, we have a couple of guys banged up,' Venable said. 'Kind of what you would expect being at the end of a stretch where it's been 26 (games) out of 27 (days). Really dense part of the schedule here where these nicks and bruises are part of it. It's more one of those than anything we are really concerned about.' Venable said Robert's situation is a 'day-to-day thing. We expect him to be available though.'
Chicago Tribune
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago White Sox minor-league report: Tim Elko hitting home runs in bunches for Triple-A Charlotte
Charlotte designated hitter Tim Elko launched an 0-2 sweeper from Sean Boyle over the left-center wall at PNC Field in Moosic, Penn., for a solo home run during the fourth inning of an April 24 Triple-A game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Elko faced Boyle again in the sixth and jumped on a first-pitch sinker for a home run to right field to give the Knights the lead. It was Elko's second multihomer game of the season. Elko accomplished the feat again three days later, hitting a two-run home run in the first and a solo blast in the sixth against the RailRiders. Elko hit eight home runs in 10 games from April 16 through Tuesday. 'It was pretty fun,' Elko said Friday during a videoconference call. 'I kind of was joking around at the beginning of the week that they come in pairs. I was able to get a few more out the rest of that week so it was a pretty cool thing. 'Just being able to put runs on the board to help us win games, it feels even better. To be able to contribute and we were playing well down there, it was fun to be able to help us win.' The first baseman/DH on Friday was recognized as the Chicago White Sox Minor League Player of the Month for March/April. Grant Taylor of Double-A Birmingham was recognized as the Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month after finishing with a 0.79 ERA in four starts. Elko, 26, slashed .367/.448/.711 with four doubles, nine home runs, 20 RBIs, 12 walks, 18 runs and a 1.159 OPS in 25 games with Charlotte in March/April. 'Just try to work on pitch selection and just making sure I'm getting good pitches to swing at and swing at the right ones and doing damage when I get them in my zone,' Elko said. Elko led the minors in slugging percentage, tied for first in home runs and ranked fourth in OPS and total bases (64) during March/April. He also ranked first among Triple-A leaders in slugging percentage, tied for first in home runs, second in OPS, fourth in batting average and total bases and fifth in on-base percentage. 'Tim's done a great job, came into spring training knowing I've got to improve the swing decisions, being able to make quality contact off of breaking balls,' Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller said last week in West Sacramento, Calif. 'He's doing that. 'That's what you want all these guys to be able to do. We give them a plan. We tell them what they do great and areas they need to improve. To see him go out and execute at a high level so far this year is really encouraging.' Added Elko: 'When you are on time and ready for those pitches in the zone, it's a lot easier to take the ones outside the zone as well. So, it's just being selective and really just zoning in on the pitches I'm looking for and hunting that helps to make it easier to not swing at those bad ones as well. 'Just zoning in on where I'm working makes it easier to take the bad ones.' A 10th-round pick in 2022 after a legendary run with Mississippi, Elko leads all minor-leagues since 2023 with 339 hits, is tied for the lead with 199 RBIs and ranks second with 568 total bases. He reached base safely in 23 of his first 25 games in 2025, hitting safely in 21. 'He's always hit the ball hard, he's actually increased how hard he's hitting it,' Sox general manager Chris Getz said this week. 'And most importantly, how often he's doing it. 'Tim's a special guy, has got tremendous leadership qualities. He impacts others beyond just himself. He was a pretty good defender at first base. He's putting together all-around quality at-bats. So, we're really happy with the development of Tim and know at some point he could join us here in Chicago.' Elko's mind is not preoccupied with the potential of the next level. He's focused on helping the Knights. 'Whenever that opportunity arises, I'll be ready,' Elko said. 'But right now, I'm just trying to focus on where my feet are and not look ahead too much, just try to continue to perfect my craft and be the best player I can every single day here and be where my feet are. … I'm just trying to … enjoy where I'm at right now.'
