'Not again': Jiménez on latest in litany of injuries

CHICAGO -- There’s an ironic twist to the left hamstring injury suffered by Eloy Jiménez while running the bases in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

That game actually marked the first one where Jiménez felt 100 percent since coming back from a left adductor strain that kept the White Sox designated hitter out of action from April 1-15.

“I felt really good,” said Jiménez prior to Saturday afternoon’s contest against the Orioles. “And if you’re asking me how to explain [this injury] to you, I don’t know how. It just sucks.”

This latest Jiménez setback will have him out of action for four to six weeks, according to the White Sox, although he was going through a light workout before talking to the media. It’s an add-on to the litany of injuries suffered by the engaging 27-year-old since making his 2019 debut with the White Sox.

Jiménez's run of maladies includes a sprained right ankle (2019), a right ulnar nerve contusion ('19), a torn left pectoral tendon suffered during Spring Training ('21), a torn right hamstring tendon from running down the first-base line on a ground out in Minnesota ('22) and even an appendectomy ('23). To say Jiménez has dealt with far more than his fair share of injuries would be accurate.

But to say he doesn’t care, doesn’t work hard or isn’t bothered by having only two seasons with at least 120 games played would be missing the mark.

“Frustrating; it’s frustrating,” Jiménez said. “Especially when I was starting to feel better at the plate. It happened, and that sucks. But I’m not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself.

“I’m just going to keep working hard and see what happens. I think I’ve been doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and it just keeps happening. At the end of the day, I just thank God that He gave me the opportunity to be here and work my [behind] off every single day.”

Jiménez joins All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (right hip flexor strain) and third baseman Yoán Moncada (left adductor strain) on the extended absence list for a team with no room for significant injury issues in 2024. Robert is embarking on an injury rehab assignment next week at Triple-A Charlotte and he could be back by the upcoming series in Milwaukee or at Wrigley Field, while Moncada’s targeted return date is after the All-Star break.

By the time next season begins to take shape, Robert might be the only one of this core still with the White Sox. The team has $16.5 million options on Jiménez in 2025 and ‘26 with a $3 million buyout, while holding a $25 million option and a $5 million buyout on Moncada for ‘25.

There’s no thought from Jiménez on moving away from the White Sox, although he understands it’s a business.

“That’s not my thought,” Jiménez said. “I want to be great for the team, I want to be great for the fans, and I want to help the team win a World Series. That’s my mindset. Since I was traded here, that was my mindset, and it never changed.”

There have been good years for Jiménez, with his 31 home runs and 79 RBIs as a rookie in 2019 as the high-water mark. He was just starting to feel connected at the plate when suffering the injury while scoring on a fifth-inning Corey Julks single.

“When I was almost scoring, I felt it. I said, ‘Not again.’ That was my reaction,” Jiménez said. “I know one day I’m going to find the answer to this. This is going to be just a bad dream, a nightmare.”

“Obviously very disappointing,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “Eloy is someone that’s a big part of this lineup going into this year. We’ll get him healthy and insert him back when we find the appropriate time. You feel for Eloy. I know he wants to be out there.”