The White Sox could be getting some key players back sooner than later.
GM Rick Hahn informed during his media scrum on Thursday that shortstop Tim Anderson and infielder Hanser Alberto are expected to begin injury rehab assignments on Friday, likely with Triple-A Charlotte. Meanwhile, lefty reliever Garrett Crochet could also make his return to the mound at some point this weekend for an affiliate, while Liam Hendriks could start seeing some action after next week.
Anderson, 29, has been on the 10-day IL since April 11 after suffering a sprained left knee during an awkward play in Minnesota. The shortstop had gotten off to a solid start both at the plate and in the field, hitting .298/.327/.404 (14-for-47) and having yet to make an error at shortstop. With the team in desperate need of a spark, Anderson should be able to give them a boost when he returns sometime next week.
Alberto, meanwhile, didn’t provide much in the way of positives for the White Sox before landing on the IL with a strained left quad. In eight games, the 30-year-old slashed just .211/.211/.368 (4-for-19) with one homer and four driven in while accumulating several costly errors in the field. Though his roster spot appeared to be in question following the emergence of Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa haven’t done much in the way of proving themselves as bench pieces during Alberto’s absence. As long as Yoan Moncada remains on the IL, it’s likely we see Alberto stick around.
Speaking of Moncada, things don’t seem to be progressing well at all for the third baseman. Hahn said that Moncada won’t be going on a rehab assignment during the team’s homestand, which stretches through May 4. The 27-year-old is dealing with a disc issue that is touching a nerve in his back, which has caused discomfort to spread down into his glutes. This is obviously a concerning development and one that makes a timetable for return all the more uncertain.
Shifting over to the bullpen, Crochet will likely begin working his way back up to Chicago in the next few days if he gets the all-clear. The southpaw has a career 2.54 ERA in 60.1 innings, striking out 29% of batters faced against a 10.7% walk rate. His lefty presence in the bullpen would be welcomed with open arms given how things have played out.
Hendriks, on the other hand, is a little further out from a rehab assignment but not by much. The 34-year-old has missed all of this season while undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but recently shared the incredible news that he is cancer-free He is expected to visit Chicago next week where they will determine his best course of action.
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Featured Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
When will announcements, such as these, be made by a GM with a proven track record? Has Astro ex-GM Click NOT been approached to become what he was in Houston. The builder of consistent winners on the field, not ‘contenders’ on paper! The architect of World Series champions, not creator of clever slogans and ‘on the cheap’ traded and acquisitions. If Click couldn’t get along with the owner of Houston, perhaps it was that owner who couldn’t see the ability of Click? The Sox have middle managers who ‘get along’ with ownership, but don’t seem to have the baseball knowledge to put talent on the field. The fans don’t really care if Jerry can enjoy the company of all those he hires, just put a team together that will win.