White Sox Call Up Kevan Smith, Place Geovany Soto on 10-Day DL

Feb 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Kevan Smith (36) hits a pitch in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Kevan Smith (36) hits a pitch in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox place veteran catcher on disabled list with inflammation in elbow. South Siders call up catcher from Triple-A Charlotte.

The Chicago White Sox recalled catcher Kevan Smith from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday as they placed Geovany Soto on the 10-day disabled list. Soto was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow. The veteran catcher was a late scratch in Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Indians.

Smith, who was injured just before his first MLB game last season in Toronto will become the Sox backup catcher during Soto’s absence. The 28-year-old catcher hit .125 in seven games for the Sox late last season. He was hitting .438 in four games for the Knights before being recalled on Friday.

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With the Sox struggling offensively to start the season, the loss of Soto to injury exposes the team’s lack of depth at catcher. Soto was hitting .267 with three home runs and five RBI’s before his injury. Omar Narvaez will take over as starting catcher, but he’s failed to record a hit to begin the season for the Sox. Narvaez is 0-for-8 to start the season.

Although the Sox are rebuilding, their lack of depth at catcher and other positions is hurting the team. With Soto out, the Sox will have to rely on two unproven catchers for the 10 days or more. Soto isn’t a great catcher, but he was providing more consistency at the plate than Narvaez this early in the season.

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The Sox will have to hope Narvaez can get past his early offensive woes as he will be relied upon heavily with Soto out of action. Narvaez is in the lineup for the Sox series finale against the Indians on Thursday. Smith will most likely catch in the Sox upcoming series against the Twins which starts on Friday at Target Field.

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