Eloy eager to get back to White Sox after appendicitis?

CHICAGO -- Eloy Jiménez has moved around Guaranteed Rate Field over the past few days like a healthy-looking player ready for White Sox action. His always upbeat personality remains front and center.

It wasn’t too long ago, though, when the designated hitter/right fielder felt quite different as he went through an appendicitis while the team was in Cincinnati from May 5-7.

“A couple weeks ago I thought I'm going to die, so I feel really good,” said Jiménez prior to Wednesday’s contest with the Guardians. “It was really, really bad, but now I'm feeling good.”

That issue for Jiménez began May 5 postgame but continued into the next morning when he started throwing up and his abs started to hurt. He couldn’t lay down or stand up, so he was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.

“It was really bad for a moment,” Jiménez said. "Appendicitis never crossed my mind. I thought it was something that I ate, something funny.

“As soon as we got to the doctor, they said right away it was appendicitis. At the beginning, I didn't even want to have surgery, but you know, health comes first before baseball. So it was tough, but now I'm here and I feel good.”

Jiménez’s desire to avoid surgery for serious situation gives a small glimpse as to how much he wants to be on the field. The original timeline for his absence was listed by the White Sox as 4-6 weeks, but that return could be sooner.

In fact, Jiménez is hoping to play when the White Sox are in Detroit from May 25-28. That would be a three-week absence.

“I love that mentality, because part of the rehab is mental, just how fast do you want to go, want to push,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “At the end of the day, you can’t break protocol.

“The mind is a really good thing when you’re in rehab. It can take you many different directions. And the fact he’s thinking of that, I love him thinking like that, I really do. I want him to push, and to the point where we have to back him off. And that’s what he’s doing right now. He wants to get back out there and be a part of this. I really like to hear that.”

When asked whether next weekend was possible for Jiménez, Grifol deferred to White Sox head athletic trainer James Kruk.

“I love the way he’s working, and he’s going to continue to do that,” Grifol said. “He wants to be a part of this. He brings a lot of energy and obviously a good bat, too.”

Prior to the appendicitis, Jiménez had a .424/.472/.636 slash line during an eight-game hitting streak, with two home runs and eight RBIs. Jiménez also will have to be ready to play right field, which is something he clearly wants to do on a regular basis, as the White Sox don’t want to lose Jake Burger’s bat from the lineup.

Right now, Jiménez is running and playing catch and nothing more. With a Minor League rehab assignment possible, returning to the big leagues next week might be a tough goal to hit. But as bad as Jiménez felt on May 5-6, he’s just glad it’s a possibility.

“It was good to know I wasn't going to die,” Jiménez said. “At the beginning, yes, I thought that it's over because it was super bad. I am thrilled that I can even talk. But it's good to find out you're still alive and you can go back to the field and play baseball.”