Camila Sosa
Injuries and bad news keep on coming at the start of the season for the Chicago White Sox: after having already lost Lance Lynn, Garrett Crochet and Yoan Moncada for a considerable time, they will have to add to the list the names Eloy Jiménez, their left fielder and key bat in the lineup, is one of the young players with the most potential and importance in the future of the organization.
After leaving yesterday with an apparent injury to his right leg that prevented him from continuing in the game against the Minnesota Twins, today the White Sox announced that the 25-year-old outfielder suffered a second-degree hamstring strain in his right leg, and will have to go on the injured list a minimum of approximately six to eight weeks to be successfully rehabilitated.
Last season Jiménez also had a serious injury that kept him out for half the season after he suffered a ruptured tendon in his left pectoral that limited him to 55 games, in which his performance left much expectations on part of the fans (.249/.303/.437 with 10 homers, 37 RBIs). And this new injury represents another obstacle in the development of Eloy as one of the offensive pillars both in the present and for the future of the team.
What Eloy Jiménez’s New Injury Means
Chicago’s performance will definitely be affected by his absence, and more than his absence, the lack of continuity he has had to feel comfortable at the plate, which is one of the most important aspects for young hitters to improve their batting skills. Fortunately, the Sox get back AJ Pollock and Lucas Giolito, both returning from the injured list to relieve the loss of Jiménez.
Luis Robert, another of the organization’s young and crucial outfielders, has also been experiencing groin discomfort and has missed the last three games because of it. Whether it will also require time on the injured list or is something to monitor on a daily basis remains to be seen, but in the meantime the White Sox outfields are occupied by Pollock, Andrew Vaughan and Adam Haseley, with Gavin Sheets and Adam Engel on the bench.
When Eloy Jiménez’s injury is no longer a reality, the young Dominican will hope to contribute at the same level he did during his first two MLB seasons: .276/.321/.527 with 45 homers, 120 RBIs, 95 runs scored and 32 doubles in 177 games played. It will be important for Eloy to achieve physical consistency and he could soon start to be labeled as a player ”made of glass.”
