Notes: Burger's comeback; Engel returns

CHICAGO -- The comeback trail of Jake Burger took another significant step Wednesday as he was added to the White Sox player pool at their alternate training facility in Schaumburg, Ill.

Burger, 24, was the White Sox top pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, but he has not played in a Minor League game since Sept. 4, 2017, with Class A Kannapolis. The third baseman sustained two ruptured left Achilles and a bruised left heel, keeping him out of action and leading Burger to share his personal struggle with depression and anxiety during his baseball absence. He was recently given permission by the White Sox to take part in the CarShield Collegiate League in O’Fallon, Mo., near we he lived, with the Minor League season canceled.

But he’s now one step closer to the Major Leagues.

“I’m sure it means a lot to him. It means a lot to the White Sox,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “We still like the kid a lot. We are hoping that maybe he’s making that jump, getting over the hurdle. He’s been working extremely hard. I know it’s probably been very very frustrating for him.

“He’s got tremendous bat-to-ball skills. He’s not afraid in the box. There’s something special in his ability to put the bat on the ball Hopefully it’s the beginning of his ultimate return. We are hopping it continues to propel him in a good direction.”

Engel returns
Center fielder Adam Engel returned from the injured list Wednesday after being placed there prior to Monday’s game when he may have come in contact with someone who was infected with COVID-19. Engel was asymptomatic and did not test positive, but he still was isolated.

“We've been taking a lot of precautious measures to make sure that everybody's safe and that myself and my family is safe,” Engel said. “As it turned out, we had the best-case scenario: a bunch of negative tests. I'm healthy, my family's healthy and I'm excited to be back with the team.

“Honestly, it's not fun, having to quarantine at your house by yourself. That's tough. You essentially just sit around at home and make sure you stay away from everybody. But as a player, that's what we're doing to make sure everybody stays safe.”

The news surprised Engel when he received notice, adding it was a load off his shoulders when all the tests came back negative.

“You just don't want to be sick with this thing and don't want to get anybody else sick,” Engel said. “Obviously, there's a lot of unknown with this virus, you just want to avoid it at all costs. Once I was getting the negative tests, it was definitely easier to breathe. I think the team, in general, has been doing an incredible job with everything that we are doing.”

Third to first

• Center fielder Luis Robert and catcher Yasmani Grandal were out of Wednesday’s lineup. Robert left Tuesday’s game after injuring his right wrist while trying to make a seventh-inning catch. He was being treated Wednesday, with the White Sox being cautious due to soreness remaining in that area.

“My hope is that he’ll be able to get back in the lineup [Thursday],” Renteria said. “Nothing of significant concern whatsoever.”

Grandal, who left Monday’s contest with lower back stiffness, was set to take some swings Wednesday.

• Dallas Keuchel, "TBA" and Dylan Cease are the three starters listed for Wrigley Field this weekend. That TBA spot would belong to Gio González if the White Sox stayed in turn, with González having pitched Monday. But it potentially could go to Reynaldo López, who has been on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder soreness since leaving in the first inning of his July 26 start.

• Infielder Cheslor Cuthbert was designated for assignment and right-handed reliever José Ruiz was optioned to Schaumburg as part of Wednesday’s pregame roster moves.

He said it
“It’s a short season, and we’re looking to put our best lineup in there every day, and we have a bunch of veterans, especially at positions I play. I’m still trying to get better every day, and I feel good about where I’m at.” -- Zack Collins, who made his first 2020 start behind the plate in Wednesday’s contest