Sox promote Hostetler to special assistant to GM

CHICAGO – The White Sox have promoted Nick Hostetler to the role of special assistant to the general manager, with a particular focus on Major League scouting. The White Sox will work quickly to fill Hostetler’s previous role of director of amateur scouting, as announced by the team prior to Wednesday night’s game.

Hostetler was promoted to the position of director of amateur scouting in August 2015 and was in his fourth full season. He worked as an area scout with the White Sox from 2002-04, and as the club's east coast crosschecker from 2008-11 before being promoted to assistant scouting director in 2012.

First-round Draft picks in the four drafts overseen by Hostetler were catcher Zack Collins and right-handed pitcher Zack Burdi in 2016, third baseman Jake Burger in 2017, second baseman Nick Madrigal in 2018 and first baseman Andrew Vaughn in 2019.

Renteria knows players won’t lose focus amid trade possibilities

There are a number of potential White Sox trade candidates as the July 31 Deadline approaches, ranging from closer Alex Colomé and left-handed relievers Aaron Bummer and Jace Fry, to veteran outfielder Jon Jay.

Then again, the White Sox, moving forward in Year 3 of their rebuild, might not make a single move. Manager Rick Renteria knows his players have dealt with this tenuous period in the past, and he knows they will continue to deal with it in the present.

“I haven't sat down and talked to any of them about any of the possibilities,” Renteria said. “I haven't had a need to, to be honest, because I haven't seen a preoccupation with them about it.

“Honestly, I don't hear a conversation about it, so it's not anything I need to truly address. If I thought there was something to touch on, I would. It's a fine line. In all situations you want to be make sure you respect the guys you're playing alongside of. By the same token, it is a compliment when others want you, when others think about the possibility of you potentially joining their club. It is complimentary.”

Renteria considers this White Sox group in particular one that respects and loves each other, and plays alongside each other very well.

“I haven't in particular heard anything that would give me pause or make me consider that any of them are going to be gone,” Renteria said. “But I say that selfishly because I love the way they're growing together and doing the things they're doing. To speculate right now, I couldn't give you anything that would be accurate.”

Anderson begins rehab assignment

It was Day 1 of Tim Anderson’s injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. The White Sox high-energy shortstop, out of action retroactive to June 26 with a high right ankle sprain, batted third and served as designated hitter for the Knights. He went 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI.

“We'll get the nightly reports to see where he's at,” said Renteria of Anderson, who DH'd for all nine innings. “He left here in a really good state of mind, he left here feeling really good physically.

“Hopefully it won't be an extended rehab, but we want to make sure he's good before we get him back. He's a big part of us and we miss him, obviously. But we want to get him back right.”

Jimenez update

Eloy Jiménez did some tee work, took some flips and played catch from 90 feet on Wednesday, according to Renteria. Jimenez, out of action with a right ulnar nerve contusion, had not thrown or swung a bat since the injury he sustained on July 16 in Kansas City.

“I'm sure we'll get to the point where he'll start taking BP in earnest,” Renteria said. “But I have to wait until the end of the day to see how he feels.”