GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox outfielder Luis Robert sustained a jammed left thumb sliding head-first into second on a stolen-base attempt during an intrasquad game Saturday. Although the No. 40 prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline, has not played since, the team expects him back Thursday after he works out during Wednesday’s off-day.

“Fortunately for us, it was jammed a little bit and he’s doing good,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “We are going to make sure he starts off everything well. We are just being very cautious.”

Robert, 21, has shown flashes of immense talent, including a three-run home run with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth Friday to beat Texas. He also has dealt with myriad injuries in his parts of three seasons with the team.

A left thumb injury happened during Spring Training last year on a feet-first slide. He re-injured the thumb on July 3 and has dealt with hamstring and left meniscus problems as well.

Renteria mentioned Robert is working with a new protection for his thumb while he’s fielding, adding they have talked to him about sliding on his feet and making sure he has the protection designed for him when on the bases. The current injury came when Robert ran on his own in the intrasquad game.

“He wasn’t supposed to run. That was a lapse in his own judgment at the time,” Renteria said. “Jammed it. Checked it out. He’s fine. And we are just going to try to stay ahead of it and make sure he’s totally full go. He was out there working today.”

Jimenez goes deep

Eloy Jimenez’s first Spring Training home run came in the fourth inning of a 7-4 loss to the Padres Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. Jimenez connected against Luis Perdomo for a two-run blast to right-center with one out. Jimenez followed up with a diving catch against Ty France to end the third.

“I knew that was coming [the homer] because I’ve gotten closer and closer with my timing,” Jimenez said. “As soon as I hit the ball, I knew it would leave the park. I made solid contact. It feels good to get the first one out of the way.”

Catcher Zack Collins, the No. 12 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, also went deep. The left-handed hitter went deep off of left-handed reliever Jerry Keel in the sixth.

White Sox make first cuts

Following Tuesday’s split-squad contests, the White Sox reassigned left-handed pitchers Flores and Jordan Guerrero, infielder Nick Madrigal and outfielders Luis Gonzalez and Blake Rutherford to Minor League camp. With the moves, the White Sox have 58 players remaining in camp: 29 pitchers, six catchers, 11 infielders and 12 outfielders.

Madrigal, the No. 47 prospect overall per MLB Pipeline and the team's top pick in the 2018 Draft, could make a quick climb to the Majors as soon as later in the 2019 campaign.

Palka making progress

Daniel Palka ran the bases for 30 minutes Monday and was symptom-free as he continues to test his tight left hamstring that has kept him out of action since leaving a Cactus League game in Peoria on Feb. 24. He planned to do more on defense Tuesday, work at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday’s off-day and then go from there.

The target dates for a full return to action remain Thursday-Saturday.

“As much as I feel like I’m ready to roll, I understand that my realistic [goal] is probably two days off of theirs,” Palka said. “I feel like we are right on track.

“But it’s been kind of nice to knock out something that’s such a minor tweak that I won’t be worrying about it. It’s good timing too. I’m not going to be worried about re-aggravating it because they gave it ample time.”

Through his work in live batting practice sessions, Palka has been taking multiple at-bats every day. He joked with Renteria about his timing feeling better now than the first couple of games and he still believes he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.

Guyer returns at DH

Brandon Guyer returned at designated hitter in the White Sox split-squad lineup against the Padres in Glendale on Tuesday after being sidelined by right elbow soreness.

“My arm never felt so good coming into a Spring Training,” Guyer said. “And just a throw into home in the first infield-outfield; can’t explain why or what happened. Just a freak thing.

“I’m feeling better with time off. Anti-inflammatories have helped. Just hitting, but at least we’re back doing that today.”

Guyer is on a throwing program, but has no idea when he’ll return defensively to the outfield.

“Yeah, it’s no fun,” Guyer said. “I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career. It’s part of the game, it happens. Have to put my energy into recovering as quickly as possible. That’s all you can do.”

They said it

“It might end up being Jose [Rondon]. You never know. Sanchy [Yolmer Sanchez] wants to get back there. We’ll continue to work through all those little details. Hopefully we don’t need it.”

-- Renteria on who would be the team’s emergency catcher behind Welington Castillo and James McCann

Up next

The White Sox have their first 2019 Cactus League off-day on Wednesday, followed by a home game Thursday against the Brewers. Carlos Rodon will make his second Spring Training start in that contest, with a first pitch of 1:05 p.m. MT from Camelback Ranch and the game being broadcast on a whitesox.com webcast.