The White Sox’ entire projected starting outfield for 2021 is on the IL.
HOUSTON — The White Sox lost another outfielder to the injured list Thursday Adam Eaton landed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.
Right-hander Zack Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to join the team in Houston, where the Sox open a four-game series Thursday night.
Burdi, 26, is 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 9 2⁄3 relief innings this season at Charlotte. Burdi made one appearance with the Sox on April 19, allowing two runs over three innings against the Red Sox in Boston.
Eaton, 32, has been struggling at the plate after a good start in April, hitting .147 with two homers his last 34 games. He has been dealing with leg issues for much of the season, and missed missed a four-game series against the Orioles in late May with right hamstring tightness.
“I know Adam Eaton is still fighting some soreness in his leg,” manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday.
Signed to one-year, $7 million contract in the offseason, Eaton is batting .195 with five home runs and 14 extra base hits, 27 RBI and 30 runs scored.
“He’s had that [soreness on] and off,” La Russa said Wednesday. “He’s had some leg miseries. He’s a vet, he knows the difference between sore and hurt. He’s played through it, there’s some times we’ve had to back him off. … So when it gets sore you pay attention to it and try to be as careful as you can.”
Eaton’s injury means the entire projected starting outfield coming out of spring training is on the IL, with Eloy Jimenez and and Luis Robert out for at least another month. Billy Hamilton is also on the IL with an oblique strain. Adam Engel, the projected fourth outfielder, injured his hamstring during spring training and didn’t return until this month.
The Sox enter their game Thursday with the best record in baseball, 43-25.
