Injuries & Moves: Leone (back) reinstated from IL; Keller DFA'd
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May 20: RHP Dominic Leone (back) reinstated from IL; RHP Brad Keller designated for assignment
The White Sox have an open rotation spot after DFA'ing Keller, who moved to the rotation on May 14 as Michael Soroka took on a relief role. After signing as a non-roster invitee, Keller made it back to the Majors on April 28, posting a 4.86 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP in five outings (two starts) for Chicago.
Manager Pedro Grifol didn't share any immediate plans to fill that rotation spot, but options include Soroka or a callup such as Nick Nastrini, who made two starts with the big league club earlier this year. The White Sox won't need to make a firm decision until Wednesday or Thursday, and they're keeping their choices fluid for now.
"We like to have five guys that take the ball every five days," Grifol said ahead of the series opener against the Blue Jays on Monday. "For the pitchers in the organization, it's an opportunity time."
Leone returns after spending the minimum time on the injured list due to lower back tightness. The 32-year-old right-hander, who last pitched on May 4, has been an important early-leverage arm out of the bullpen.
May 19: 3B Bryan Ramos to start injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday
Ramos, 22, ramped up pregame onfield activities to test his left quad strain during the weekend series at Yankee Stadium. His trip to Charlotte should be a short one if all goes well and will be his first innings played for the Knights, as the No. 5 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, made the jump from Double-A Birmingham to the Majors.
"He’s ready to go," White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. "It took about three to five days, kind of as expected.
"We just couldn’t go short. Didn’t have the depth to go short. He’ll go down there and he’ll play, he’ll get some ABs down there and we’ll make a decision after that."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
INF Bryan Ramos (left quad strain); No. 5 on the White Sox Top 30 Prospects list
Expected return: Late May
Ramos left the White Sox Game 1 loss to the Nationals on May 14 after injuring himself running from first to third on a Nicky Lopez single and didn't progress enough during two games away to stay off the IL.
"He wasn’t 100 percent, he wasn’t close to it. Probably 70 percent," manager Pedro Grifol said. "At this time we just couldn’t go short, so err on the side of caution on his end and make sure we’re covered correctly."
Grifol said Ramos had made enough progress by May 19 to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on May 21. (Last updated: May 19)
OF Luis Robert Jr. (right hip flexor strain)
Expected return: Late May/Early June
On April 26, general manager Chris Getz said Robert's return is "not too far off" and "a couple weeks away."
Although he had a brief setback during the ongoing recovery, Robert is beyond that issue and is focused on beginning game play with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League team May 19. Manager Pedro Grifol and the organization want him running at 90 percent before moving to game action.
"He’s doing really well," Getz said. "He’s out in Arizona. He’s running, he’s hitting, he’s moving around well, so it’s been really positive.”
"I'm not feeling as bad as I was feeling in 2021," Robert, who suffered a similar but more severe injury in May of that year, said through interpreter Billy Russo after landing on the IL. "It's hard. Last night I couldn't sleep just thinking about that. Out of the whole thing, that's the hardest part." (Last updated: May 13)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
3B Yoán Moncada (left adductor strain)
Expected return: Shortly after the All-Star break
While running to first on a ground ball in the top of the second inning on April 9, Moncada doubled over in pain and had to be helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list with a left adductor strain.
The estimated original recovery time for Moncada was three to six months, the team announced on April 10, but general manager Chris Getz gave a more optimistic return update on April 12. Moncada has hit .282 with three doubles and a triple in 11 games.
"He starts hitting left-handed today," said White Sox manager Pedro Grifol of Moncada on May 13. "He spent the whole week hitting right-handed. I’ve seen videos of him catching some ground balls and doing some drills. He’s coming along. He’s a little further behind [Luis] Robert [Jr.], but he’s also coming along good.” (Last updated: May 13)
C Max Stassi (left hip inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Stassi, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 15, suffered a setback during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte when he was hit in the hand on a hitter's backswing. So, Stassi will need to recover from that, along with his left hip inflammation.
"It's not significant in regards to a fracture, but it slowed it down a little bit," general manager Chris Getz said. "We want to get him to the point where he can catch back-to-back games and his body's recovering before we bring him back.” (Last update: April 15)
RHP Jimmy Lambert (right rotator cuff strain)
Expected return: TBD
Lambert visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache during Spring Training for a second opinion on his shoulder and was able to avoid surgery. He said something was there, but they had a program in place to try to treat it. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)
LHP Shane Drohan (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: TBD
The Rule 5 selection, who was taken in the Major League phase of the Draft, had what manager Pedro Grifol described as a nerve decompression. The plan was to have the southpaw start a throwing program right after the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL prior to Opening Day on March 28.
"I was really excited to watch him pitch," Grifol said. "We are excited to be able to identify that, and then to have it be something that we can get through and start that program right at the end of spring." (Last updated: March 28)
RHP Jesse Scholtens (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Early to mid-2025
Scholtens was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar cruciate ligament in his right elbow on March 1 and is expected to miss the season.
He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 27 to make room for Bailey Horn, acquired from the Cubs. Scholtens was 1-9 with a 5.29 ERA in 26 appearances (11 starts) last season. (Last updated: Feb. 27)
RHP Matt Foster (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Mid-to-late 2024
Foster missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery after he had the procedure on April 19. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 23. (Last updated: Feb. 23)