TA takes BP as he eyes late-season return

DETROIT -- Tim Anderson made solid connections on more than a few swings Friday night at Comerica Park, looking like the American League batting title winner from 2019 and one of the steadiest hitters in the game over the past four seasons.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, those swings took place during batting practice. But the All-Star shortstop is working his way toward a return from a sagittal band tear on the middle finger of his left hand suffered on a check swing in his final at-bat in Texas on Aug. 6, while being careful following surgery.

“I want to make sure I’m 100 percent when I do come back,” Anderson said during a pregame media session Friday in Detroit. “Make sure I have all my strength for sure.”

“He looks normal. He’s not favoring nothing,” White Sox hitting coach Frank Menechino said. “He’s not doing anything different. He just has to build up his endurance now and get his body and muscles in shape.”

Anderson features a slash line of .301/.339/.395 over 351 plate appearances this season with six home runs, 25 RBIs, 50 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. He was just cleared for baseball activity last Tuesday after seeing his hand specialist and has been taking infield and ramping up his swings, which will be the ultimate factor for his return.

Veteran Elvis Andrus has been a key addition in Anderson’s absence at shortstop and at the top of the order, posting a .308/.351/.538 line with six homers, 21 RBIs, 16 runs scored and 12 multi-hit efforts in 25 starts since signing with the White Sox on Aug. 19. White Sox acting manager Miguel Cairo wouldn’t commit to putting Anderson back as the team’s No. 1 hitter when he’s healthy enough to return, but there’s no question he’ll be back in his familiar shortstop spot.

“Right now, just one day at a time. One day at a time,” Cairo said. “Right now it’s Elvis [leading off]. When [Anderson] comes back, we’ll see what we can do. He’s our shortstop. He’s definitely our shortstop.”

“Definitely been different from being injured and just being up and down,” said Anderson, who also has missed time with a right groin strain. “Definitely been a difficult one, trying to stay healthy. So many injuries. But overall I feel like it was good.”

Cairo mentioned Anderson as a candidate for an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte before joining the team.

“You’re going to be facing a different pitcher, a different adrenaline,” Cairo said. “You’ll be able to see in a real game. Six weeks is a lot of time. So I just hope he wants to go and get some at-bats and get some ground balls.”

While Anderson continues working, he also will continue giving back with his wife, Bria, through their first TA7 Sneaker Ball at AceBounce in Chicago this Monday night. Proceeds will benefit Anderson’s League of Leaders and Chicago White Sox Charities.

The event is going to be “dope” and “exciting”, according to Anderson, as a good chance to bring some people together and have a good time. Anderson and the White Sox would like to create their own fun during the final stages of the 2022 regular season and into the playoffs.

“They’ve been grinding,” Anderson said. “They’ve been playing really well. Hopefully we can keep it and keep making a push.”