White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said closer Liam Hendriks will throw again this coming week, possibly in Cleveland, as he continues moving toward a return from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hendriks threw to hitters Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field and will do the same the next time he takes the mound. There is no set date for his 2023 debut, and the Sox still are taking the situation one day at a time.
‘‘We’ll sit down again afterward, we’ll evaluate, see where we’re at and go from there,’’ Grifol said before the Sox’ game Saturday against the Royals.
Hendriks recently completed a rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte, pitching five innings over six games and compiling a 10.80 ERA. He told media last week in Charlotte, North Carolina, that he didn’t want to return to the Sox before he was back to 100%.
‘‘In all honesty, I just don’t want to be a burden upon the team, getting back and then having to be babied a little bit,’’ Hendriks said. ‘‘I want to make sure I’m right before I get fully active and fully back.’’
Crochet’s back
On Thursday, reliever Garrett Crochet completed his comeback from the Tommy John surgery on his left elbow he had in 2022, needing only seven pitches to throw a scoreless ninth inning against the Guardians. There was only one thing missing.
‘‘It was nice,’’ Crochet said before the game Saturday. ‘‘Able to keep my nerves in check. Wish I could have got a ‘punchie,’ but three-up, three-down is a good way to come back.’’
Garrett Crochet on his return from Tommy John surgery. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/kMINr1eRHA
— Brian Sandalow (@BrianSandalow) May 20, 2023
Assuming ‘‘punchie’’ means strikeout, Crochet likely will get a few of those soon, though Saturday wasn’t that day. Working in the seventh, Crochet yielded a walk and a single before getting a flyout, then was replaced by Reynaldo Lopez.
Still, it was another step forward for Crochet.
‘‘I was telling some guys I forget I even had Tommy John at this point,’’ Crochet said. ‘‘My elbow feels good. I feel like my shoulder has adapted to the workload. Now it’s getting guys out.’’
The (extensive) injury report
Gavin Sheets was originally in the lineup, hitting sixth and playing right field, but was replaced by Adam Haseley. Grifol said Sheets jammed his right wrist sliding into second base Friday and is day-to-day.
That wasn’t the lone injury update, either.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal (hamstring) was out of the lineup but available, if needed, and Grifol said he would play Sunday. Grifol also said outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez (appendectomy) ‘‘is probably a bit ahead of schedule’’ and ‘‘had a full day’’ of hitting on the field, doing outfield work, throwing and running. Second baseman Elvis Andrus (left oblique) is also ahead of schedule.
Frazier on the way?
Former Yankees and Cubs outfielder Clint Frazier is expected to be in a Sox uniform Sunday.
Frazier, who hit .216 in 37 at-bats with the Cubs last season, is batting .375 with seven home runs and a 1.317 OPS in 16 games at Triple-A Charlotte.
Jake in the outfield?
Jake Burger hasn’t played the outfield for the Sox, but Grifol said that’s something the team has talked about a ‘‘little bit.’’
One concern Grifol acknowledged is Burger’s injury history, including a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2018. His athleticism, however, wouldn’t be a hindrance. Grifol said Burger is capable of stealing 10 bases a season.
‘‘He is undervalued outside of this clubhouse,’’ Grifol said. ‘‘You look at him, he’s a big, strong guy, and people don’t think he can run. But he can really run.’’
