5 ways Eloy Jimenez's latest injury impacts the Chicago White Sox in the short and long run
He has a strained hamstring.
Chicago White Sox slugger Eloy Jimenez is hurt again. It is not really shocking to see Eloy hurt since his suffering soft-tissue injuries is the third guarantee in life after death and taxes.
Jimenez pulled up in pain after rounding third base during the fifth inning. Thankfully he crossed home plate to score the White Sox second run of the inning as the Sox won 5-0 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Jimenez immediately left the game with what the team announced as a hamstring strain.
Eloy Jiménez left tonight's game with a left hamstring strain. He is being further evaluated.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 22, 2024
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said after the game that Jimenez will be out for at least a couple of games.
Grifol confirms Nastrini to start Wednesday. Clevinger Thursday. pic.twitter.com/wELsipwFAQ
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) May 22, 2024
Grifol said something along the same line when Jimenez injured his adductor muscle in the third game of the season. So expect an official announcement of Eloy going on the 10-day IL soon much like he did in April.
That means the White Sox will again be without their best player in Luis Robert Jr., their second-best hitter in Yoan Moncada, and now their best power hitter with Eloy going down. They are also without their best rookie in Bryan Ramos on the 10-day IL. However, it looks like Robert Jr. is getting closer to returning from a hip flexor strain as he is getting set for a rehab assignment. Ramos is set to start his as well.
One of the many reasons the Sox got off to that putrid 3-22 start was because the team was down Moncada, Eloy, and Robert Jr. during a good portion of that stretch. Heck, the reason the contention window slammed abruptly shut was those three constantly spent time on the injured list.
What does Jimenez's latest injury mean for the team in the short term?
There are three immediate impacts...
The White Sox are losing a bat that has been productive over the past seven days with a .286/.348/.373 slash line and the best pure power barrel in the lineup.
It does clear up some playing time issues in the outfield as Gavin Sheets should now go back to DH where he was very productive when Eloy was hurt at the beginning of the season.
That means the Sox should be able to get Corey Julks in the lineup regularly and even get some at-bats for Dominic Fletcher. Pedro made a terrible comment yesterday regarding why Fletcher was not seeing the field after being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.
It still means one of the pillars of the lineup, Andrew Benintendi has to play. He may be a rotted pillar be at least the Sox can rotate Pham, Fletcher, and Julks in right and center.
Although, maybe Benintendi will stay on the bench a bit longer as the White Sox are reportedly calling up Zach DeLoach.
Sources: The Chicago White Sox have promoted OF Zach DeLoach to the Major Leagues following the injury of Eloy Jimenez.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) May 22, 2024
DeLoach is the White Sox's #29 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline and came to Chicago in the trade from Gregory Santos to the Mariners. pic.twitter.com/SyQBoj4wpX
DeLoach battled Fletcher in spring training for the starting right fielder job. It is worth seeing what he can do since his already 25 and has a .263 batting average at Triple-A Charlotte along with a respectable .701 OPS. That is OPS does not have a ton of slug propping it up, but his on-base percentage is .358 and his career minor league OBP is .375. The Sox need guys who can get on base right now.
His injury impacts the Sox' long-term plans in two ways...
Well, if it wasn’t already decided, it has to be by now that Eloy’s team option should not be picked up after the season. The Sox hold a $16.5 million option for next season and $18.5 million for 2026. $33 million is too much for a player who spends more time on the IL than on the basepath. Ironically, it is the basepath where he picks up most of his injuries.
Jimenez missed 107 games in 2021, 78 in 2022, and 42 last season. His career high in games played came during his rookie year in 2019 and that was 122.
Eloy already missed two weeks this season with a soft-tissue injury. You cannot trust him to be in the lineup. It also means the Sox do not have a reliable, long-term DH option through 2026.
Spending more time on the injured list than in games also means his trade value has to be next to nothing. He has a poor batting run value according to Baseball Savant and poor plate discipline.
Lack of availability and lack of discipline at the plate makes it doubtful a contender is going to be like here is a top prospect for Eloy’s bat. The Sox would be lucky to get what they got for Robbie Grossman right now.
Instead, the Sox will have to hope Eloy can come back soon and ride whatever production they can get from him. They can then let him go and even if it will be for nothing, it is not like he is giving him a ton of time to make them regret it.
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