Eloy Jiménez went from first to third on Andrew Vaughn’s double to right field in the seventh inning Monday.
The Chicago White Sox outfielder/designated hitter suffered a low-grade left hamstring strain during that sequence. He was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, and will miss an estimated two-to-three weeks.
“I didn’t really notice anything, I don’t think anybody did until next time at-bat,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said before Wednesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“He had mentioned that he felt a little something in his hamstring and that he could take his at-bat and that he might need a pinch-runner, and then at that point in time, there was just no use taking any chances so we erred on the side of caution.”
When healthy, Jiménez is one of the more dangerous hitters in the American League. But he played 84 games last season after spending more than two months on the injured list tearing his right hamstring while running to first base in late April. Jiménez played just 55 games in 2021 after suffering a ruptured left pectoral tendon during a Cactus League game.
“It’s one of those things,” Grifol said. “He worked hard this offseason, he put the work in, he put the time in. He’s in great shape. But the good thing is (Wednesday) he came in and he felt strong.
“The most important thing was how he was going to wake up (Wednesday) and walk in here. I saw him, I spoke to him. He’s strong, he feels better than what anybody else thought he was going to feel like. He feels good, obviously not good enough to play, but good enough after going through any type of hamstring issue. We’re optimistic it’s not going to be anything long-term.”
Jiménez is 4-for-20 (.200) with two doubles and three RBIs in five games this season. His strong spring included going 5-for-11 with two RBIs in three World Baseball Classic games for Team Dominican Republic.
“I think the harder you work in the offseason, the better you’re prepared to withstand something like this,” Grifol said. “I think his work this offseason has put him in the position to recover from this thing pretty quickly. I’m looking forward to having him with us in the very near future.”
In the corresponding move, the Sox recalled infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte. Burger and Gavin Sheets will be among the designated hitter options for the Sox. Sheets started at DH on Wednesday.
“When I sent Burger down, I told him that he was a major-league hitter,” Grifol said. “That was one of the hardest send downs I’ve ever had in my career. And the reason was because I really feel like he’s a major-league hitter.”
Burger slashed .263/.300/.491 with four home runs and nine RBIs in 23 Cactus League games this spring. He is 2-for-12 (.167) in three games with Charlotte.
“I’m going to play the game hard no matter where I’m at,” Burger said before Wednesday’s game. “Just stay ready and take care of my work like always and that’s the type of guy I’m going to be always.
“Working as hard as I can, and whenever they need me, I’m here.”
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