Another Injury Pops Up for the White Sox

The Chicago White Sox streak of terrible injury luck doesn't seem like it's going to run out anytime soon. During Thursday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals, switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal was taken out in the third inning with an apparent injury.

Grandal singled with one out in the fourth inning, but the White Sox broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago showed Grandal barely being able to make it down the first base line. Earlier in the game, Grandal doubled and was also shown trying to stretch out his back while standing on second base.

Backup catcher Seby Zavala came in to pinch-run and stayed in behind the plate, replacing Grandal.

The White Sox announced that Grandal was lifted from the game because of a hamstring issue.

Grandal, 34, has already been playing with some back issues. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Sunday that the veteran catcher has had back spasms.

In 2022, Grandal was limited to 99 games, missing about six weeks from June into July because of back issues. He also missed time with a knee injury in August.

After going 2-for-2 and then leaving with injury, Grandal raised his season slash line to .270/.349/.426, with three home runs and 11 RBI in 129 plate appearances. His 118 wRC+ is the highest among qualified White Sox hitters so far this season.

We'll see if Grandal will be sidelined for a while or if this will be a minor injury and maybe he avoids a stint on the 10-day injured list.

The White Sox are currently without right-handed hitters Eloy Jimenez and Jake Burger, two players that were beginning to carry the offense. Jimenez started to catch fire at the plate, but he is now out 4-6 weeks after he underwent an appendectomy while the team was playing the Reds in Cincinnati this past weekend.

Meanwhile, Burger was placed on the 10-day injured list a week ago with a strained left oblique.

Switch-hitting third baseman Yoan Moncada has been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights. He's played in five games in the minors and according to Grifol, Moncada could be back up with the White Sox on Friday.

Moncada has not played with the White Sox since April 9.

Season Slash Lines
Eloy Jimenez: .258/.321/.423, 4 HR, 104 wRC+ (25 Games)
Jake Burger: .224/.312/.612, 7 HR, 146 wRC+ (23 Games)
Yoan Moncada: .308/.325/.564, 2 HR, 143 wRC+ (9 Games)

The White Sox entered Thursday's game against the Royals 7.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for first place in the American League Central Division. The Twins beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 to move eight games ahead of the White Sox.

After winning two straight series against the Twins and Reds, the White Sox ended up losing Thursday's series finale to the Royals 4-3. So, after building up some momentum heading into Kansas City this week, the White Sox are back down to 13 games under .500. They begin a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Friday in Chicago.