The Chicago White Sox made a bold move by trading Luis Robert Jr., a cornerstone of their roster and one of the more dynamic outfielders in the game. In return, they struck a deal with the New York Mets, landing a pair of prospects headlined by Luisangel Acuña-yes, the younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr.-a name that carries plenty of intrigue in baseball circles.
But what should’ve been a clean transition into a new era hit an awkward snag almost immediately.
White Sox GM Chris Getz, speaking about the acquisition, mistakenly referred to Acuña as a switch-hitter-multiple times. In reality, Acuña has always hit exclusively from the right side.
The misstep went viral after a video compilation surfaced showing Getz repeatedly getting Acuña’s handedness wrong. It was the kind of mistake that catches fire quickly, especially in today’s hyper-connected baseball world.
To his credit, Getz attempted to defuse the situation with a bit of humor. In a statement shared by Ken Rosenthal, he said:
“So I probably have been getting carried away describing his versatility. He can play every position on the field.
Why does it have to stop there? I called Luisangel and told him that even though he's just right-handed, we still love him.”
Lighthearted? Sure. But even with the joke, this wasn’t a great look for the front office-especially considering the magnitude of the trade.
Acuña wasn’t some throw-in prospect or fringe minor leaguer. He was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Robert Jr. packing.
When you're trading away one of your franchise’s most recognizable talents, the return has to be rock solid-not just in talent, but in the way it’s presented to fans and the baseball world. Misidentifying one of Acuña’s most basic traits doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
This kind of gaffe raises fair questions. Not about Acuña-his talent speaks for itself-but about the attention to detail from the front office.
Fans can find out Acuña’s hitting profile in seconds. For the general manager who just traded for him to get it wrong multiple times?
That’s a head-scratcher.
Now, does this mistake impact Acuña’s ability to contribute? Not at all.
He’s still a talented, athletic infielder with high upside. But moments like this matter in the court of public opinion, especially in a city like Chicago where fans are hungry for a turnaround and keeping a close eye on every move the White Sox make.
The trade itself will ultimately be judged on the field. If Acuña develops into the player the White Sox believe he can be, this moment will fade into the background.
But in the short term, it’s a reminder that in baseball-especially when a team is in transition-every detail counts. And when you’re trying to sell a new era, missteps like this can muddy the message.