Luisangel Acuna Struggling at Plate as White Sox Chase AL Central

The 24-year-old utility man owns a .522 OPS and a 47 OPS+ while Chicago sits one game behind Cleveland in the division race.

Chicago White Sox utility player Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., has been one of the least productive hitters in Major League Baseball this season, according to an assessment by Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer, who named him the club's worst player of 2026.

In 98 games, Acuna has posted a .227 batting average with a .260 on-base percentage and .261 slugging percentage, adding just one home run. His .522 OPS and 47 OPS+ place him 53 percent below the average hitter, and Rymer noted that only three hitters with at least 200 plate appearances have been less productive at the plate.

Rymer also compared Acuna's season to that of Edgar Quero, who matched his 217 plate appearances but posted a worse -0.8 rWAR before being removed from the roster.

The struggles come as the White Sox, two years removed from a 121-loss season, are chasing a division title. Chicago sits one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central, seeking its first division crown since 2021.

While Acuna may see limited action in a potential postseason run, his speed remains valuable. He has stolen 17 bases in 23 attempts and ranks in the 98th percentile among big leaguers in sprint speed.