Projected White Sox lineup will leave NY Mets fans scratching their heads

No one expects the Chicago White Sox to win a lot of games in 2026. While improved, they’re a long way from knocking anyone over even in the often questionable AL Central. Their recent trade with the New York Mets subtracted Luis Robert Jr. from the lineup, creating a hole in center field.

The solution? According to FanGraphs’ Roster Resource, Luisangel Acuna is the choice.

Not only that, Acuna is going to play center field and bat seventh. A powerless hitter last season in the majors and minors with as many home runs as you and I have combined on a professional level, Acuna’s lineup placement and position should remind the White Sox how far they actually are.

Luisangel Acuna was going to barely hit for the Mets and now he’s batting 7th for the White Sox

Acuna batting one spot behind Munetaka Murakami is comical in a different way. Murakami’s Japanese Babe Ruth nickname had many projecting him to get a massive contract this offseason. The Mets were often a team cited as a possibility.

He ended up signing for two-years and $34 million rather than the $200+ deal once believed to be headed his way. If Acuna does indeed hit behind Murakami, does that make him the Dominican Lou Gehrig?

The White Sox can have the patience to turn Acuna into a center fielder. This is acceptable. Batting seventh is what feels funky. Ahead of Edgar Quero and Brooks Baldwin, both of whom had an OPS just under .700 last year vs. Acuna at .567, Chicago really seems to be banking on Acuna’s hot Venezuelan Winter League performance.

Acuna managed to start 4 games as the sixth and just as many hitting seventh for the Mets last year. Those were in some of the early days when Hayden Senger was catching, Tyrone Taylor was starting, and Brett Baty wasn’t hitting. Acuna got off to a strong start in 2025 and took home April NL Rookie of the Year honors. A 3-hit game on May 4th pushed him to a .313 batting average on the year. He’d have only one extra base hit the rest of the year, a double in July.

Only one spot different, if Acuna hits higher than 8th to begin the year for the White Sox, bet the under.