10:05PM: Grandal is day-to-day with the injury, as manager Tony La Russa told The Athletic’s James Fegan (Twitter links) and other reporters that the Sox will monitor Grandal’s condition to determine if an IL placement is eventually necessary, or if another roster move is necessary to get another catcher on the roster. For now, the plan seems to be for Collins to start tomorrow’s game and Danny Mendick to act as the emergency catcher. Zavala left tonight’s Triple-A game, so he is likely to at least be added to Chicago’s taxi squad.
8:49PM: White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal left tonight’s game due to left calf tightness, the team announced. It isn’t yet clear when the calf issue surfaced for Grandal, as was replaced behind the plate by Zack Collins prior to the bottom of the fifth inning, more than two innings as Grandal’s last at-bat (he struck out to end the top of the third).
Between that strikeout and a single in his first plate appearance, Grandal’s slash line now sits .190/.388/.441 through 243 plate appearances. Despite the lack of batting average, Grandal still has a 135 wRC+ due to his power (14 homers) and his exceptional on-base skills. Grandal’s 59 walks ranks second among all players, as the Rangers’ Joey Gallo leads baseball with 63 free passes, though Gallo has the benefit of 80 more plate appearances than the Chicago catcher.
It isn’t yet known if Grandal will be placed on the injured list, though such a move would leave the White Sox without yet another key bat. Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Adam Engel, and Jake Lamb are all on the IL, while Nick Madrigal has been lost for season after hamstring surgery. Yoan Moncada also suffered a bruised hand while sliding into third base yesterday, and will miss at least Chicago’s current three-game series with the Tigers while recovering.
Collins figures to get the majority of starts at catcher if Grandal is sidelined, and Collins took an above-average 106 wRC+ (and .236/.333/.400 slash line in 127 PA) into tonight’s game with Detroit. Yermin Mercedes has played two games at catcher this season, and Seby Zavala is also available at Triple-A.
Oh no the Dreaded Calf Tightness
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Didn’t expect Mendick as emergency catcher.
Was thinking Garcia. Leury can do it all.
Or maybe Vaughn? He has played everywhere else.
Same injury apparently returned tonight.
Rushed back too soon.
Maybe a cramp!
He’s like the new Gary Sanchez, only good at defense.
You must not watch the Chisox if you believe Grandal plays good defense.
You must not watch baseball if you think that he doesn’t.
Hey Steve, you know what? Even Ozzie Guillen and Steve Stone don’t think Grandal plays good defense. Although they don’t knock his framing. And with umpire inconsistencies, that’s like getting a discount at the dollar store.
Dogbone when did they say that? When he was hurt and using the weird stance? Give it a rest.
There is Dogbone being Dogbone with his Dogbone comments! Grandal is one of the best catchers in the MLB and this what most baseball analysts have been saying about him.
Grandal can really hit bud
@case
If you ignore his power and OBP, then I guess so.
No matter what he’s good at and what he’s not good at the only certainty is that he’s overpaid for what he brings to the table
Dude his contract is a steal he’s clearly better than JT and making much less
He’s not clearly better than Realmuto. Get a clue on baseball because you obviously need one.
He gets on base as much as Ronald Acuna, has hit seven more home runs than Realmuto, and plays better defense. What do you mean?
he’s clearly worse than JT at basically everything
Who cares? Not my money.
Yeah wow, who would want a player who works counts, gets on base, and hit homers at a position where many players have a slash that would border on embarrassing anywhere but catcher.
@daddytbone
I take it the first thing you saw about Grandal was his BA, and you looked no further.
I didn’t expect to come to the comments to find Grandal so polarizing.
Wasn’t there someone on here that was touting Seby and Yermin as the future? I might have muted them though…
Would have to believe Seby gets the call then DFA when Grandal is ready. Looks like he’s close to being a minor league free agent anyway. Appears to be a true minor leaguer. Can’t hit above double A. Haven’t seen enough of Yermin behind the dish to form an opinion of his defense. His bat will recover and he’ll be back. Just needs to adjust his approach and quit pressing. Grandal is a player that finds a way to get it done. Need him back ASAP.
I don’t know why Zavala is still with team in first place. He’s not even a good defensive catcher.
Yermin might have seen his last days in a White Sox uniform. MLB pitchers caught onto to Yermin!
Last days? Lol.
There is going to be no room for Mercedes once Eloy and Robert come back! This is just a fact! Eloy might be a full time DH once he returns to the Sox.
When I posted the other day I wanted to see Collins play every day for the next couple of weeks to see what he can do, now that he looks like he’s starting to hit, this isn’t how I wanted him to play every day. But here we are. This will be a good test for Collins.
Still, absolutely I want Grandal back ASAP. I wish Collins the best while Grandal’s out, but the Sox have more than enough injuries on the offensive side of the ball, they need Grandal back.
Changing the subject, I really want to see Sheets play every day now, and see where he goes with this good start. I know it’s only one game, but ditto for Burger. I didn’t even recognize Burger watching him last night. No more fat jokes about him from the trolls.
Too bad our geriatric manager thinks Collins should bunt every time he comes to the plate.
La Russa was talking about Grandal on the pregame show over the radio. Grandal will probably miss the rest of this series and will not do a stint on the DL. Grandal was running around the field before the game to test his calf so he will be fine!