CHICAGO — Mike Elko made a significant impact with his first major league hit, which turned out to be a home run that played a crucial role in the game. Elko’s three-run blast in the sixth inning gave the Chicago White Sox a lead against the Miami Marlins, leading to their 4-2 victory on Sunday.
Elko showcased an impressive performance in Triple-A Charlotte this season, hitting .348 with 10 home runs in 31 games. Called up to the majors recently, the 26-year-old first baseman debuted on Saturday and followed up with a strong performance as the designated hitter on Sunday. His timely home run broke a 1-1 tie against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara.
“I want to contribute to winning games and do whatever I can to help,” Elko shared. “I was able to make a difference today, and checking those boxes felt amazing.”
After a challenging sweep by Kansas City, the White Sox bounced back, securing two wins out of three against Miami. Although Elko is not listed among the team’s top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, his promising start in Triple-A suggests he might bolster Chicago’s offense.
The White Sox have struggled offensively, scoring one or no runs in 11 games this season, and currently hold the lowest run count in the American League. Meanwhile, Alcantara faced difficulties this season, dropping to a 2-5 record with an 8.10 ERA after allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Despite being the Cy Young Award winner in 2022, Alcantara has managed to pitch through six innings only once in eight starts this year.