White Sox players, prospects dealing with injuries at the start of Spring Training. One injury could be a major setback for a highly rated pitching prospect.
With their first win against Kansas City and Yoan Moncada off to a hot start, the White Sox are picking up some ground in spring training. Still, the injury bug has struck hard early on.
The Sox are looking forward to the future presence of pitching prospect Dane Dunning. Dunning, currently the 76th highest ranked prospect in baseball, was a 2016 first round pick of the Washington Nationals out of the University of Florida. He was traded to the White Sox in 2016 – along with Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito – in the deal that sent Adam Eaton to Washington.
He’s yet to be pulled up to the big leagues but, as reported in December by Southside Showdown’s own Etheria Modacure, “Dunning missed the second half of… season after being placed on the disabled list in late-June with an elbow strain.” Some speculate that these injuries kept him from being pulled up to the main roster last season.
Now, it appears he may be out longer than hoped.
Numerous sources – including Chuck Garfien – report that the news on Dunning right now is concerning:
White Sox announce that Dane Dunning is dealing with forearm discomfort. He's being evaluated. Team will update over the coming days when more is known.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) February 26, 2019
James Fegan of The Athletic stated,“ith his previous elbow sprain suffered last June, and even with the White Sox holding him out of major league camp, Tommy John surgery remains a possibility.”
If worse comes to worse, it would leave two top White Sox prospects – Michael Kopech being the other – with a lengthy recovery process in the works.
On the offensive side, Daniel Palka exited Sunday’s game against San Diego with tightness in his left hamstring. He’s missed the last three games since, though it appears to be largely a precautionary measure.
According to RotoWireStaff, “It sounds as though his time off is likely to stretch to at least five or six games, but there hasn’t been any mention of a setback with the hamstring.”
For various reasons, other Sox prospects who have had their development delayed due to injury include Zack Burdi, Jake Burger, Micker Adolfo, and Luis Robert, though recovery is expected.
Outfield prospect Luis Alexander Basabe suffered a broken bone in his left hand last week.
The White Sox have certainly had a few delays, but that shouldn’t stop the team from continuing to grow.