Andrew Vaughn of the White Sox survived the first two months the only way he knew how: keep grinding

The struggle was real.

No one wants to deal with what happened to first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who fell short of expectations and collapsed offensively for a team that started 3-22 and remained at the bottom of the baseball world.

Vaughn, a No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft who set career highs in nearly every offensive category in 2023, batted .199 through the first two months of an awful season. — for him and the White Sox.

“Nobody wants to struggle, and it was tough for him early,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said before the White Sox’s game against the Yankees on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “To see him keep his head up and not let it get to him. … He came to the park every day with the same attitude and the same work ethic, never stopped eating and putting in the work and now he’s giving bears fruit.”

Vaughn, who had four hits against the Yankees on Monday, has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games, batting .294 with three homers and seven doubles during that span to raise his hitting line to a more respectable .243/ .296/. 406. Since May 29, Vaughn is hitting .284/.331/.495 with 10 homers, 16 doubles and 33 RBI.

“The first two months were really a rollercoaster,” Vaughn said.

“There are a lot of things to learn from all of this. It’s definitely a mental and physical test. You play 162 games in this game, so there’s one more tomorrow and that’s got to be the mindset – attack today, do your best, figure out what you need to do as a group and individually to play that night. “

Vaughn attacked the crash the only way he knew how: get in the cage, get to work, adjust even better.

“And that worked,” he said. “I’m putting my body in a good position to explode. Not a whole lot of extra movement. It just simplifies.”

Vaughn “looks a little more on his feet,” Sizemore said. “He’s in a better position to start. That helps him see more pitches and gives him more room for error. And he has good at-bats.”

The numbers aren’t where he wants them, but Vaughn entered Tuesday leading the Sox with 101 hits, 26 doubles, 52 RBIs, 44 runs and 109 games played.

“He’s just a grinder,” Sizemore said. “The boy has worked hard all year. The guy doesn’t complain, doesn’t say much, just does his job. To have such a tough start and get back to where he is now shows how tough he is and how hardworking he is. He played through injuries and did everything we asked him to do.”

Vaughn, 26, married in 2022 and left home with a supportive wife of nearly two years, Lexi, who provides balance away from work and has helped with the mental side of his profession, Vaughn said.

“She was the best. Always positive, always has my back,” Vaughn said. “It’s good to have such a person in your life. And of course the dog.”

With 42 games to play, Vaughn wants to finish strong and set the tone for himself and the Sox (29-91) entering spring training next year. That’s all there is to salvage from a season headed for a major league record 120 losses.

“It’s always a work in progress and there’s always things to tweak,” Vaughn said, but right now I’m in a good place, putting good swings on the ball and hitting the ball hard.

“You’re going up against the best pitchers in the world and you have to learn how to attack them, come up with a good plan and execute it.”