Moncada (right oblique strain) starts '22 on IL

DETROIT -- Yoán Moncada was set on being part of the 2022 White Sox Opening Day lineup Friday afternoon at Comerica Park, even after being scratched from Tuesday’s Cactus League finale in Arizona.

But Moncada’s right oblique strain made that goal an impossibility. The switch-hitting third baseman was placed on the injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, with Jake Burger being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.

“The worst part about it is that he’ll walk around, and he looks fine,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Except he sneezes, and he’ll go to his knees.”

“I told them that if I was feeling better by tomorrow, I would be able to play,” said Moncada through interpreter Billy Russo. “But then they said there's no need to rush it, that it's better to prevent something worse from happening.”

Right-handed reliever Ryan Burr joined Moncada on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, which he first felt on Wednesday during the team’s final Arizona workout. Right-hander Matt Foster was recalled from Charlotte, while the White Sox also selected the contracts of left-hander Tanner Banks and right-hander Kyle Crick, designated outfielder Micker Adolfo for assignment and outrighted catcher Seby Zavala to complete the 28-man roster.

Moncada started feeling something in his oblique while taking swings in the cage on Monday. General manager Rick Hahn estimated Moncada’s absence at approximately three weeks, although even a mild Grade 1 oblique strain can be tricky.

“He wanted to play, he wanted to play the day we scratched him,” Hahn said. “But also, when he sneezes or coughs or laughs, he feels a little something there, so it’s probably not something to be torquing and trying to hit a baseball with. We feel we caught this one early.

“If it had gone on a couple of days swinging, it could have been far more significant. A Grade 1 strain is something you have to respect, but at least it’s mild, and we’re optimistic he’ll be back playing with us in three weeks, maybe quicker.”

There’s been no running or throwing for Moncada in the early stages of the injury, although he has been able to do some exercises in the gym. Although he’s disappointed about missing Opening Day, Moncada understands the decision.

“I know that the injury is in kind of a delicate area because it's involved with almost all the activity that we do,” Moncada said. “You have to be smart about that, too. I think this is the best thing we can do right now, just try to play it smart. And hopefully in a few days, weeks, this goes away.”

These latest White Sox injuries add to left-hander Garrett Crochet, who underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery earlier this week, and frontline starter Lance Lynn, who was scheduled to have surgery to repair a slight tear in a tendon near his right knee. The White Sox played through extended injuries suffered by center fielder Luis Robert and left fielder Eloy Jiménez last season and still managed to win 93 games and capture the American League Central without much opposition.

So, the “next man up” philosophy is not foreign to the South Siders, especially coming out of a shortened Spring Training following the lockout.

“No matter when it happens, when you lose key players to injury, it’s frustrating. It’s sad, it’s frustrating,” White Sox Opening Day starter Lucas Giolito said. “But it’s the way the game goes sometimes, and you just have to keep moving forward. Last year, we took some big hits, and we were able to overcome them. This year, same thing. We have guys that can fill in those roles.”

“I believe we are going to take our best shot,” La Russa said. “That’s really the message. Put your best shot, and if somebody beats you, they beat you. Anything less than your best shot is not acceptable.”