Chicago’s rough start to the 2023 MLB campaign just suffered another blow as the team will now be without DH Eloy Jimenez for the next 4-6 weeks.
The White Sox, currently sitting at 11-23, 8 games back of the division leading Twins, will attempt to right the ship without their clean up hitter, just as he was rounding into form.
Jimenez, 26, underwent a successful appendectomy Saturday evening after complaining about severe abdominal pain that afternoon. The oft injured slugger wrapped up his team’s contest vs. Cincinnati Friday night by extending his hitting streak to 8 games.
With 6 runs scored, 2HRs, 8 RBIs and a .424/.472/.636 slash line during that time, the undrafted righty will be sorely missed in the White Sox lineup. Already without 3B Jake Burger, and Yoan Moncada, Chicago’s lineup is now markedly devoid of power.
Since breaking into the league in 2019, Jimenez has struggled to remain on the field, suiting up for only 194 out of a possible 486 games between 2020 and 2022. When healthy, he’s undoubtedly an impact bat. However that’s becoming a caveat that looms larger by the day for the South Siders.
“It’s another hurdle for us,” outfielder Gavin Sheets told reporters. “Losing his presence, it’s tough. How talented he is and the way he’s swinging the bat. But more than that, outside of baseball, it’s a scary situation. Glad we got it handled.”
Manager Pedro Grifol echoed that sentiment when he remarked “Robert now is swinging the bat really well. Today was his fourth straight game with an extra-base hit, and that ties a career high for him. So being able to have those two guys swinging the bat at the same time, with a couple of other guys, and Moncada doing his rehab, it was promising. But that’s life. There’s stuff you’ve got to deal with, and we’ve got to move on. Thank God everything came out all right.”
With an ever growing injury history, White Sox fans are justified in their frustration on Jimenez’s availability since signing a 6 year, $43M contract with the team. While the appendectomy was well beyond his control, it unfortunately marks a recurring pattern for the Chicago faithful over the past several seasons.
Having already been sidelined for 9 games earlier this year due to a left hamstring strain, Jimenez will look to return to the lineup some time in June.
The 6’4” DH is slated to make $9.5M this year, and $13M in 2024. From there however, Chicago has two club options for $16.5M and $18.5M respectively in 2025 and 2026 before Jimenez becomes a free agent.
If Chicago continues to slide out of the AL playoff race during his absence, the team’s front office could look to make Jimenez expendable at this year’s trade deadline.
The White Sox are next in action vs. Cincinnati on Sunday.
Photo: Arturo Pardavila III. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.