The White Sox are promoting one of their best power-hitting prospects to AAA, per James Fegan of SoxMachine. He reported earlier this afternoon that 25-year-old first baseman Tim Elko is going to AAA. He continues climbing the minor league ladder and will now join the Charlotte Knights. Elko’s promotion is noteworthy, as he could be the potential first baseman of the future for the White Sox.
Elko is the definition of an underdog story. Drafted by the White Sox in the tenth round of the 2022 draft out of The University of Mississippi, Elko played through a torn ACL at points during his stint with Ole Miss and became one of the most revered players in that program’s history because of his perseverance and exceptional stats. Despite his college success, his signing bonus with the White Sox was just $35,000 because of his age and status as a college senior draft pick. He is not currently ranked among the White Sox top 30 prospects per MLB.com. However, the doubters have not stopped him from making a name for himself.
Despite his uphill battles, Elko has continued working his way up the White Sox minor league system. Until now, he has spent all of 2024 at the AA level, hitting 16 doubles and nine home runs in 90 games. His 29.2 K% is a potential concern moving forward. He must cut down the strikeouts to be a viable MLB player. What is not a concern, however, is his power. At 6’3 and 250 pounds, Elko is a big man with enough power to stick at first base at the MLB level. The White Sox desperately need power, something Elko has in abundance.
The timing of this promotion is fascinating. Elko is having a solid season, but his numbers are seemingly not eye-popping enough to warrant a promotion to AAA right now. There could be other factors in this decision, namely Andrew Vaughn’s status. His place as the White Sox starting first baseman is up in the air. He has been the subject of some trade rumors lately. Even if he does not get moved by the deadline, Vaughn needs to show more to have his name set in stone at first base in 2025. He could be non-tendered this offseason, opening the door for another player to take his spot. Elko’s promotion to AAA could be part of a backup plan at first base if Vaughn does not stick around. That theory makes sense on paper, as Elko would be the logical replacement for Vaughn.
Tim Elko is one of the more intriguing prospects in the White Sox organization. Despite being overlooked his entire professional career, Elko has proved the haters wrong by mashing at every level he has been at thus far. There is a clear opportunity for Elko at the MLB level in Chicago moving forward. At 25 years old, it is becoming a situation of now or never for him. While he will have to conquer AAA first, we could see Elko have a consistent role in Chicago by as early as next season.
