As speculated several days ago by Jon Heyman, Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa has been cleared by doctors to join the team in Oakland on Sunday. However, it is not a sure thing that he will be back on the bench when the team returns from the west coast.
The White Sox released a statement saying La Russa will be in Oakland on Sunday to participate in the A’s pregame number retirement ceremony for pitcher Dave Stewart.
Doctors will allow La Russa to travel to the event from Arizona where La Russa was being treated for an undisclosed ailment.
Stewart was the ace of the A’s staff during La Russa’s time as a manager in Oakland. The A’s appeared in back-to-back-to-back World Series losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, beating the San Francisco Giants in 1989, and dropping the title to the Cincinnati Reds in 1990.
Tony La Russa will be with the Chicago White Sox in Oakland for the ceremony.
La Russa’s ability to be in Oakland is all that he is allowed by the doctors to do right now as they have not yet cleared him to take over his managerial duties with the White Sox.
No timetable for his return to the bench has been given although he will come back with the team to Chicago after the series with the A’s.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 10, 2022
Before starting the White Sox series opener with the Kansas City Royals on August 30th, the 77-year-old La Russa left Guaranteed Rate Field for an unknown ailment. He was then sent to Phoenix for further medical testing.
La Russa has missed the team’s last 11 games, however, under interim manager Miguel Cairo the team has managed to go 8-3 to get themselves into sole possession of second place behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division.
Following the team’s dramatic 5-3 comeback win on Saturday, closer Liam Hendriks said
"“We want Tony to get better and healthy and make sure we are firing on all cylinders, but Miggy stepped up admirably into that role.”"
The White Sox are currently 1.5 games behind the Guardians entering play on Saturday. The team will host a two-game series with the Colorado Rockies starting on Monday.