Chicago White Sox Injury Updates: Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Liam Hendriks
The Chicago White Sox entered play on Thursday at a very disappointing 7-18. Part of the reason for that slow start has been the number of injuries to key players at key positions.
On Thursday, general manager Rick Hahn provided updates on third baseman Yoan Moncada, shortstop Tim Anderson and closer Liam Hendricks.
Chicago radio station 670 The Score provided the quick updates in a Tweet:
"White Sox injury updates:
-- Tim Anderson to start rehab assignment Friday
-- Yoan Moncada "progressing steadily" but won't return imminently
-- Liam Hendriks will have a medical checkup next week, then could soon go on rehab assignment"
As for Anderson, he's been on the injured list since April 11 with a left knee injury. He's an integral part of the White Sox offensive attack, hitting at the top of the order. He's hitting .298 through 47 at-bats this season and is a lifetime .288 hitter. He's a two-time all-star (2021-2022). He led the league in runs scored in 2020 and won the batting title in 2019, when he hit .335.
Moncada has been out with a back problem, which we've learned is more serious than initially reported. This continues a frustrating stretch for Moncada, who played just 104 games last year.
Rotowire fantasy baseball has the report on Moncada's health, saying
"Moncada is dealing with a disc issue in his back and will not be ready for a rehab assignment during the White Sox' April 28-May 4 homestand, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
General manager Rick Hahn noted Thursday that Moncada is improving and it's unlikely to be an injury which requires surgery. However, the third baseman still needs some more down time before he's ready to return to game action. It would appear Moncada is multiple weeks away from a return."
The 27-year-old was out to a .308 start this season with two home runs. For his career, he's a .254 hitter. He was acquired from the Red Sox before the 2017 season in the deal that sent Chris Sale to Boston.
As for Hendriks, the news of a possible rehab assignment is excellent news. Hendriks recently announced that he is cancer free after he said back in January that he would be starting treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was not put on the 60-day injured list so he could come back soon, in theory, but no one knows how much time he'll need to get back into game shape or game action.
Hendriks is one of the top closers in the league, having wrapped up 115 career saves, nearly all of which have come since 2019. He led the league in 2021 in saves with 38 for the White Sox.
Hendriks will be entering his 13th major league season and has spent time with the Twins, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics and White Sox. He's a three-time all-star (2019, 2021-2022).
At the time of this posting, the White Sox are losing to the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-2, in the top of the sixth inning.
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