With Nick Madrigal’s serious hamstring injury that landed him on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, one third of what was supposed to be the Sox’ Opening Day lineup will miss most of the season.
How much more can the White Sox withstand?
With Nick Madrigal’s serious hamstring injury that landed him on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, one third of what was supposed to be the Sox’ Opening Day lineup will miss most of the season.
Somehow, some way the Sox have maintained their grip on first place in a very winnable American League Central and are, in the view of many, the team to beat in the entire AL.
But Madrigal’s loss will be felt. He was playing his best baseball of the season and “is a big, big part of our club,” manager Tony La Russa said.
If the Sox do meet their goal of getting to the World Series they might have to get there without the two-strike hitting master who swings “a magic wand” as La Russa puts it, but won’t be able to use it because of a proximal right hamstring tear.
With a complete tear of a tendon connected to the hamstring and a partial tear of another tendon, season-ending surgery is possible. It will be a week before a path to Madrigal’s recovery can be determined.
“We’re exploring options,” Hahn said.
Outfielder Brian Goodwin was called up from Triple-A Charlotte, which will allow outfielder-infielder Leury Garcia to play more second base. Danny Mendick played second in Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays, and the pair will split time, La Russa said.
Hahn will also explore trade options. The Pirates’ Adam Frazier, the Rangers’ Brock Holt and Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop are just three names that could be available from teams in sell mode as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Hahn would have been in talks to improve the team anyway, but Madrigal’s injury shifts the focus to new area of need.
“It’s June 10,” Hahn said. “This is still a little bit early for things to be getting done, but the talks will become a little more focused here.
“We could well have an interesting next few months leading up to the trade deadline.”
Madrigal’s is the latest in a series of impactful injury blows to the Sox, who are playing without left fielder Eloy Jimenez (torn pectoral muscle), center fielder Luis Robert (hip flexor strain) for most of the season. Getting them healthy and sharp in time for the postseason is a possibility that keeps the Sox in good stead.
“Their trajectories are both good and we remain optimistic on both returning at some point this year,” Hahn said.
With neither cleared for baseball activities yet and several weeks away from rehab assignments, late August or September are the most optimistic return projections, however.
“Only when they are headed for a rehab assignment am I going to give a satisfying answer when can we expect them back,” Hahn said.
In the meantime, the Sox trudge along in first place with a four-game lead in their division entering Thursday.
“What we’re dealing with is a first place team that has overcome numerous challenges already this season,” Hahn said.
“We’ve proven we can handle it,”La Russa said. “Play as hard as we can and as good as we can with the guys we have.”
Even without Jimenez and Robert, the Sox rank second in the majors in weighted runs created. Their starting pitchers led the majors with a 2.98 ERA and the bullpen ranks among the best.
Put it all together and you have a Sox team that, at 37-24 through Wednesday, was off to its best start since 2006 (38-23).
Plowing ahead without Madrigal, a No. 4 overall draft pick in 2018 who was batting .305/.349./425 and playing his best baseball of the season offensively and defensively, presents the next challenge.
Madrigal was batting .359/.412/.551 with nine extra-base hits and 10 RBI over his last 21 games before he got hurt running out a ground ball.
“Never give in, never give up,” La Russa said. “Look at the lineup today, that’s a quality starting lineup. Quality starting pitcher, quality bullpen. I’m really more concerned about somebody who enjoys the game so much who’s not playing. Same thing with Eloy and Luis and to a lesser extent Michael [Kopech]. It’s harder on them than us.”
