The Chicago White Sox knew they were in for a rebuild when they decided to part ways with longtime cornerstone Luis Robert Jr. this past offseason. Trading a player of his caliber is never easy, but the front office saw an opportunity to restock the farm system. In exchange for Robert, they landed pitcher Truman Pauley and Luisangel Acuña—the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr.

On paper, it looked like a solid return. But so far this season, the younger Acuña has yet to live up to the billing. Through 25 games, the 24-year-old is hitting just .181/.250/.194 with zero home runs and only three RBIs. Those numbers are far from what the White Sox hoped for when they brought him into the fold.

Unfortunately, the struggles haven't been limited to the batter's box. In center field, Acuña has committed three errors, raising concerns about his defensive reliability. With the team already eyeing a potential call-up for top prospect Braden Montgomery—though he's better suited for a corner outfield spot—the front office may soon have a decision to make.

The White Sox weren't expected to be contenders this season, but they need more production from their center fielder. According to Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller, Acuña has been the team's least valuable player so far. "Ronald Acuña Jr.'s younger brother has a much more intriguing transaction log than game log at this point in his career," Miller wrote. "He was traded to the Mets for Max Scherzer in 2023, then from the Mets for Luis Robert Jr. this winter. But he has three errors in center field and a .181 batting average thus far in this chapter. He's still just 24, though, so maybe he'll turn things around."

At 24, Acuña still has time to develop and find his rhythm. But for a team trying to build for the future, the early returns have left a lot to be desired. White Sox fans will be hoping that with more reps and confidence, Acuña can start living up to the promise that made him a key piece in this trade.