TODAY: Jimenez was indeed activated off the 10-day IL today, with Chicago optioning outfielder Adam Haseley to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
MAY 27: White Sox fans have received a variety of positive injury news in recent days, led by progress for closer Liam Hendriks as he makes his way back to the mound after his battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hendriks threw a live bullpen session on Friday, following which manager Pedro Grifol noted to reporters (including Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times) that Hendriks “feels great” and that they are “discussing as an organization to see when he’s going to be activated.”
While Grifol did not specify a timeline, that Hendriks’ return to game action appears imminent is not only a major win for the scuffling White Sox, but a personal triumph for Hendriks as well. The three-time All Star has been among the very best relievers in baseball since the start of the 2019 season, with a 2.26 ERA, 2.13 FIP, and 114 saves in 239 innings of work in that time. When Hendriks returns to action, he figures to reclaim the closer role, joining Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, and Reynaldo Lopez in the late inning mix on the south side.
There may not be a specific timeline for Hendriks’ return to action, but the same cannot be said for outfielder Eloy Jimenez, who Van Schouwen notes could return to action as soon as tomorrow, per Grifol. That tracks with last week’s report that Jimenez was “ahead of schedule” in recovering from his recent appendectomy and could return to the lineup over Memorial Day weekend.
The former top prospect broke out in a big way in 2022. Though he was limited to just 84 games by injuries, Jimenez slashed a phenomenal .295/.358/.500 with 16 home runs in that limited time on the field. The 26-year-old slugger hasn’t quite reached those same heights in 25 games this year, though he has managed a solid if unremarkable .258/.321/.423 slash line in 97 plate appearances across those games. Upon his return, Jimenez figures to spend most of his time at DH, though he will factor into the corner outfield mix as well.
With Jimenez returning to take over the DH slot on most days, it was recently reported that infielder Jake Burger would move from the designated hitter spot to begin taking reps at second base, allowing the club to keep his 144 wRC+ bat in the lineup. That decision puts into question the role of incumbent second baseman Elvis Andrus once he returns from his current oblique injury. The answer to those questions may end up coming in short order, as Van Schouwen notes that Andrus is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte tonight as Grifol revealed that the veteran infielder could return to the big league club later this week.
Andrus impressed with the Sox in 43 games down the stretch last season, slashing .271/.309/.464, but has struggled in 39 games this season after returning to the club on a one-year, $3MM deal during the offseason. In 151 plate appearances in 2023, Andrus has slashed just .201/.280/.254 with a wRC+ of just 50. Much of Andrus’s lost production comes from a power outage, as the veteran slammed nine home runs and eight doubles in 191 plate appearances with the Sox last year, but has mustered only a single home run and four doubles in just 40 fewer trips to the plate this season.
REACT TO ME!!!!!!
What’s the over/under for games played before something else happens to Eloy?
Not sure you can knock him for appendix. Other stuff, sure. But appendix can happen to anyone. I can tell you from experience…the worst pain I’ve ever experienced.
Word!
It’s a legitimate question. The guy frequently suffers some type of malady whether it happens to be directly under his control or not.
But Yoan Moncada has such spiffy yellow trim, to his uniform. And statistically he’s having one of his best seasons, in years. Maybe Reinsdorf would like to extend his contract another couple years?
Sure it can happen to anyone, but it DID happen to him. Can’t say he’s one of the people it didn’t happen to. Some people are magnets. Its just one more thing on his list. Next could be a dog bite.
Way to kick sick people when they’re down, no-gain.
Did anyone have 12 days?
2.5 games
I can’t wait for Hendriks to come back. The only problem is, he won’t have any chances to save games.
No, the sad thing is that no one cemented the closer role in his absense, and the job will just be GIVEN back to him. He is very capable, but it sure would have been nice to have the need for a decision to be made.
There is still the decision of who to get rid of when Hendriks returns
White Sox Notes: graffiti?
SELL THE TEAM!!!!
I just have to laugh at the cheerleaders for the Sox, specifically the media. Every time the Sox happen to win one, the pre/post game guys go nuts and talk about how there is a lot of season left and that people are overreacting… They ‘over react’ because we have seen this before. Underachieving, no heart, and no leadership in the locker room. Its why they are 10 games under .500 and look bad vs good teams (and even bad vs bad teams at this point). At this point the Sox should just hope that people actually want some of the players they have and get somehow run into a good trade.
Yeah, I cringe when the media storked the “success” the Sox had in May, trumpeting that they have turned the corner. What they fail to do is put the May Schedule in context. They played 20 of 29 against the AL Central. that why the pitching got better. 4 of the 5 worst teams in OBP are from the AL Central. Minnesota is the “highest” at 19 in the league .
The absolute most moronic stat is the one they were pushing about the Sox record with TA in the lineup. The fortunes of MLB don’t turn on 1 player. The Angels have had 2 of the elite players in the game, vastly superior to Anderson, and the have floundered around .500 for years. FACT: the Sox win/loss is partially impacted by their SS that slashes .263/.302/.306 on top of already being -5 defensive runs saved and -3 Outs Above average.
Let me add this… I’m sick of Benetti’s act. Sox down 12-3 with 2 outs in the 9th. Alberto drives in 2 meaningless runs and Benetti calls the play like it was a world series game that was just tied up. He’s a cheerleader and his feel for the game idls what you would expect when you look at him and the beard growing out of the top of his shirt….
Just a few changes in chemistry and the task at hand can materialize into something special. The injury hex and looming issues with selfish desires is there. Another 5 or 10 game losing streak and this team is scrapped. Still enough there of value to others, the excitement could be about the changes. I can’t see this team winning it all ànyway, isn’t that what they were supposed to be playing for.
Just bumped into a Dr at Palmisano Park. He said it isn’t more likely that Riley Greene will have an appendectomy because he ran into the CF wall at pizza pizza park.