CHICAGO – White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a separated left shoulder.

The 23-year-old, the No. 4 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, spoke Thursday for the first time since sustaining the injury Tuesday at Milwaukee while sliding into third while trying to advance from first on a Luis Robert single. And Madrigal, who hit .294 over five games, seemed upbeat concerning a quick return.

“We're taking it day by day but I'm hoping [to return] within the next couple weeks,” said Madrigal, whose move to the IL was made retroactive to Aug. 5. “It's already gotten a lot better from yesterday. I'm moving around a lot better. Hopefully, I'm back on the field in the next two weeks.”

"He's walking around and being stretched and strengthening already," said manager Rick Renteria, who added that Madrigal could need a surgical procedure following the 2020 season.

Madrigal almost certainly will go to the team’s alternate training facility in Schaumburg, Ill., before returning to the White Sox, and general manager Rick Hahn was cautiously optimistic for a return by the end of August.

In hindsight, Madrigal said testing Avisaíl García’s arm was “probably a dumb play looking at it overall,” but one he has done hundreds of times. As soon as Madrigal landed a little bit weird on his slide, he immediately knew what had happened.

“I was frustrated but I've always believed that God has a plan for everything,” Madrigal said. “No matter if it's hard in the moment, I feel like everything will work out.

“Thankfully when we went to the doctors, they examined me and told me it wasn't going to be season-ending, that I could come back from it. I was immediately happy for that. It kind of stinks in the moment, but fortunately I'll hopefully be back in the next couple weeks.”

Who’s No. 1?
Tim Anderson served as the White Sox leadoff hitter before going to the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain on Aug. 1. And with Anderson basically pronouncing himself ready to go after doing a full workout Thursday in Schaumburg, it looks as if he will reclaim the lineup’s top spot from rookie phenom Robert upon his return next week.

“I still consider Timmy our leadoff guy, and we'll find a way to continue to adjust the lineup a little bit,” Renteria said. “I've got to talk to Tim and see how he's doing and then figure out where I'll insert him. But right now, if the question is, ‘Will I insert him at the top of the lineup?’ My answer to you right now is yes.”

Robert had hit in all five games at the leadoff spot, with a .429 average and 1.187 OPS. Then again, Robert had hit in 11 of 12 games played entering Thursday, so his impact can fit anywhere in this lineup.

When Anderson was asked what he likes about hitting leadoff, he said with a laugh, “I get the party started.” That party should be starting back up for Anderson soon.

Third to first
• Outfielder Nicky Delmonico was optioned to the Schaumburg training facility Thursday. That move, along with Madrigal, got the White Sox roster to the MLB-mandated 28 players.

• Right-handed pitcher Andrew Dalquist, the No. 14 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was added Thursday to the team’s alternate training facility in Schaumburg. Dalquist, 19, was the team’s third-round pick in the 2019 Draft.

• Renteria hopes the injury situation for designated hitter Edwin Encarnación (inflammation near his left SC joint) will be resolved by this weekend.

• The originally scheduled game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Thursday, Aug. 13, which was set to be played at “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, Iowa, will move to Friday, Aug. 14 at Guaranteed Rate Field beginning at 7:10 p.m. CT. The White Sox will now have a day off on Aug. 13. This change is as a result of Cardinals-Tigers doubleheader being rescheduled for Aug. 13 at Comerica Park.

They said it
“We love getting to come in the game and locking it down, that's a really cool feeling. It seems like our lineup is going to get you at some point during the day and once they give us the lead, being able to shut it down is something we can take pride in.” – Right-handed reliever Evan Marshall, who has retired 14 straight hitters.