No one could’ve expected that former White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn would be making an impact in the playoffs.
He hit .189/.218/.314 in his first 48 games and was sent to Triple-A Charlotte. Then he struggled with the Knights before being traded to the Brewers in June for Aaron Civale.
In 2024, Vaughn was playing on a 121-loss Sox team. Now he finds himself contributing in the National League Division Series with Milwaukee, which finished with the best record in the majors (97-65). The series is tied 2-2 ahead of a win-or-go-home Game 5 at American Family Field.
“[The] beginning of the year definitely wasn’t how I wanted it to be,” Vaughn said. “Definitely [a] really tough part of my career.”
Vaughn was able to revive his career with the Brewers, who have a history of getting the best out of players. He reported to Nashville, the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, and had immediate success, batting .259/.338/.550. The fresh start was refreshing.
“The game humbled him,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Vaughn’s struggles.
Vaughn still wasn’t on the organization’s radar for a major-league call-up. But an opportunity opened up when first baseman Rhys Hoskins injured a thumb, and Vaughn took advantage, hitting a three-run home run in his July 7 debut against the Dodgers.
Vaughn became entrenched in the lineup, and Hoskins was relegated to pinch-hitting duty and left off the NLDS roster upon returning from the injured list in September.
People around the organization credit the clubhouse culture for Vaughn’s improvement. He hit .300/.367/.459 in 64 games with the Brewers.
In Game 2, Vaughn slugged a three-run homer off Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga to tie the score in the first inning and swing the momentum. Murphy said Vaughn is “back into a spot where he feels great about who he is and how he contributes.” Vaughn and Murphy have quickly taken a liking to each other.
Andrew Vaughn sent the Milwaukee crowd into a frenzy!#NLDS pic.twitter.com/de7cJ7Lipx
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2025
“[Murphy] expects the best from us, which I think is really important, and he’s a guy you want to go out there and play for,” Vaughn said.
The looseness of the clubhouse and the relative anonymity he can enjoy with the Brewers have allowed Vaughn to assimilate quickly. He’s not leaned on like he was with the Sox.
“[For Vaughn] to find his way here and reinvent himself is just awesome to see,” right-hander Erick Fedde told the Sun-Times. “I got to see the whole thing from one side to another, and I’m just really happy for him.”
Like Vaughn, Fedde was a first-round pick (by the Nationals). His struggles led him to pitch in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he fine-tuned his game. He returned to the majors with the Sox in 2024.
“Sometimes just [getting a] fresh set of eyes or just a feeling of a fresh start can do a lot to your confidence,” Fedde said.
Despite the success, Vaughn is still keeping a level-headed approach. He knows how quickly the game can take a turn.
“Just taking it one pitch at a time,” Vaughn said.
