Successful Rehab Day For Key White Sox Players

Year after year the White Sox suffer a significant amount of injuries to key players. This year has been no exception, as we have lost Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Liam Hendriks, Garrett Crochet, and now Jake Burger to the injured list at some point so far in the young season. But, things are looking up, as Friday was a very successful rehab day for some key guys. 

Emotions Run High In Charlotte

In Charlotte, it was an emotional night. In Liam Hendriks’s first game back since his diagnosis with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, there was an emotional scene before he took the mound. Both teams gave him a standing ovation in what would be a very successful return to the mound. 

He threw a perfect inning striking out one, only needing to use nine pitches. He was clocked around 97-98 MPH on his fastball, and considering all he just went through, that is insanely impressive.  

If he continues to pitch like this, we may see him in Chicago within a week or two. His return will be welcomed with open arms, not only considering the adversity he went through but the closer issues the White Sox have had without him. 

It was also good to see Yoan Moncada in the lineup for the Knights yesterday, as he has been out of the Sox lineup for almost a month now with a disc issue in his back. He ended up going one for four, securing one of only two hits for the Knights. 

With Jake Burger now injured, one will wonder what will happen with the return of Moncada. Burger has been hitting well and his glove has shown some improvement at the hot corner. There will have to be some lineup gymnastics to get everyone in, so hopefully manager Pedro Grifol can figure it all out. 

Working On Things In Birmingham

Down in Birmingham, reliever Garrett Crochet looked good working on some things in his second outing of his rehab stint. 

He would give up three hits in two innings, allowing one run, but he would strike out three batters. I do like that the White Sox are starting to stretch him out multiple innings, as I believe that he could be a great starter in this league. 

Since the White Sox have 5 starters, this could be the Michael Kopech year for Crochet. He could work out of the pen for a couple innings or a high-leverage situation, and then slowly build him up to start next year, as the Sox could have a couple of holes in the rotation. 

Crochet started in college and someone with his talent level should at least be given a chance to start. Worst case scenario, you put him back in the bullpen where he has proven to be effective in his young career. Considering the state of the Sox, it couldn’t hurt to try it. 

Overall, it is nice to see all these players back in action and we should see them all before the end of June, barring any setbacks. If the Sox continue to play well, adding these players could push them to compete in this god-awful division.