CHICAGO -- Miguel Gonzalez's 2018 season came to a close on Wednesday, as the White Sox right-hander underwent surgery on his right shoulder at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Doctors performed a labral repair and debridement on Gonzalez's shoulder, and his recovery time is expected to be 9-12 months. Gonzalez rejoined the White Sox this past offseason via a one-year, $4.75 million deal, but he made only three big league starts, going 0-3 with a 12.41 ERA.
The veteran began an injury rehab assignment with a three-inning start for Triple-A Charlotte on June 24. But the 34-year-old Gonzalez was brought back from that assignment when he continued to feel shoulder pain.
Jones optimistic about rehab
After Nate Jones threw a 15-pitch batting-practice session Wednesday, the right-hander seemed cautiously optimistic in regard to ongoing rehab work for a right arm pronator muscle strain, which put him on the disabled list June 13.
"It went well," Jones said. "Got through it with 15 pitches. Didn't hit anybody, and I threw some strikes. So that's a positive."
Jones threw fastballs, changeups and sliders in his short mound session, following up his throwing off of flat ground. He cut it loose at close to 100 percent, because Jones needs to push it and see where he's at. His arm reacted well.
"My gut's telling me it feels good," Jones said. "We've been testing it along the way. I had to pass X, Y and Z before I could even come out to the field.
"So far, I've passed the tests each day to be able to throw, to be able to long toss, to be able to throw bullpens, to be able to throw live [BP]. We've been doing well, and hopefully we keep moving forward with no setbacks."
Jones, who last pitched on June 12, will need a Minor League rehab assignment before returning. Jones was unsure when that stint would begin, or when a return to the Majors could be legitimately possible.
"I didn't have any experience with this injury before, so I didn't have any projections," Jones said. "Mentally, I'm not getting ahead of myself, or down on myself, if something didn't go right that day. I just kept passing those tests, and fortunately enough, we've made it to throwing live BP.
"They want to see how it reacts right afterward and through the night. Obviously, a big challenge will be how it feels tomorrow and if I'm able to go out and play catch again and be a normal guy."
Gomez joins White Sox
The White Sox purchased the contract of Jeanmar Gomez from Triple-A Charlotte prior to Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The team designated reliever Bruce Rondon for assignment, leaving the 40-man roster at 39.
Gomez, 30, went 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA, two saves and 35 strikeouts in 40 innings over 30 relief appearances with Charlotte this season, his first in the White Sox organization after signing as a free agent on January 30. Gomez has limited left-handed batters to a .186 average, and all opponents to a .135 mark with runners in scoring position.
"My sinker ball was working, down in the zone," said Gomez, who will wear uniform No. 54. "Last year, I lost my sinker early in the season. I had trouble with my sinker. Now, I was getting confident throwing my sinker, both sides of the plate, working ahead in the count. That's what I was doing down there."
Rondon, 27, went 2-3 with an 8.49 ERA, one save, five holds and 40 strikeouts over 35 relief outings in 2018, his first season with the club. Rondon walked three in one-third of an inning in Tuesday's loss, giving him 15 walks and 19 earned runs allowed over his last 7 2/3 innings.
Injuries nagging top picks
Nick Madrigal, the White Sox top pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and the No. 4 overall selection, has played one game for the organization's Arizona Rookie League team as he battles through a sore hamstring he had upon arrival.
"Understandably, if you know the kid or at least know of the kid, you understand why he was continuing to grind through that," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "He was trying to win a national championship, and then showed up to us, wanted to keep playing through it, which we shut down.
"He's progressing nicely. He'll likely be back in the lineup with the Arizona affiliate hopefully by this weekend, if not sooner, and then go from there to [Class A] Kannapolis once he gets his rhythm back."
Second-round pick Steele Walker continues to be held out by an oblique strain he sustained during his college season with Oklahoma.
Former Sox player dies
Former White Sox infielder Sammy Esposito died on Monday at age 81. Esposito played nine seasons with the Sox (1952, '55-62) and was a part of their 1959 team that won the American League pennant. He appeared in two World Series games vs. the Dodgers. Following his playing career, Esposito served as the coach at North Carolina State University.