The Chicago White Sox announced on Tuesday afternoon that Tim Anderson has been placed on the 10-day injury list with a strained right groin.
This is relatively positive news for the White Sox. He could miss up to 4-6 weeks before beginning a rehab assignment. He could return as soon as late June depending on how his rehab treatment goes.
Anderson injured himself during Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. In the seventh inning, Anderson fielded a ball up the middle off the bat of P.J. Higgins. As he faded into center field to make the throw he landed awkwardly and fell to the ground in pain. Anderson needed assistance from two trainers as he limped off the field. It appears to be a groin strain.
He recorded a hit and a stolen base before leaving the game. Danny Mendick was thrust into the game as a replacement at shortstop. Mendick finished the game with two hits in relief duty. The White Sox were able to salvage a 5-4 win in the 12th inning after a walk-off single from Jake Burger.
Anderson's absence is a huge blow to the White Sox offense. He has served as the catalyst at the top of the lineup for Tony La Russa's squad. When. he is out of the lineup the offense seems to lack the same spark.
The White Sox have already taken on their fair share of injuries this season. Anderson joins Garret Crochet, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Yoan Moncada, Lucas Gioliuto, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert as players to spend time on the IL this season. Lynn has yet to pitch in a game and Crochet is lost for the season. Anderson may be the biggest blow of them all.
After Sunday’s victory, the team is 124-89 in games when Anderson is in the lineup. They are just 28-28 when he does not play. Anderson has arguably been the best shortstop in baseball this season. Entering Sunday’s game he was batting .354/.392/.503 in 39 games.
His .354 batting average led the White Sox and was the fourth-highest batting average in the MLB. His 58 hits are the fifth highest in the MLB while his eight stolen bases rank 10th. After a rocky start, his fielding has been much improved over the past two weeks.
Danny Mendick figures to be the front runner to replace Anderson at short. Mendick has bounced up and down between Chicago and Triple-A Charlottle during the past three seasons. Since May 30th, 2021 he has been sent down and recalled 14 times.
He can play across the diamond and maybe a slight defensive upgrade over Anderson. He has yet to commit an error at shortstop in his young MLB career. However, Mendick tends to be a non-factor offensively. he is a career .240 hitter, with eight home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .649 OPS in 337 at-bats.
He will be a serviceable replacement for the next couple of weeks but the rest of the lineup will need to step up to overcome Anderson's absence.
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