BOSTON -- White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth never hit after entering Sunday¡¯s comeback victory over the Red Sox as a defensive replacement at shortstop in the eighth inning.
It¡¯s probably a good thing since Meidroth, who was scratched from the starting lineup hours earlier, couldn¡¯t really swing the bat due to right thumb inflammation.
¡°Yeah, maybe laid down a bunt or something,¡± said the No. 8 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, prior to Monday¡¯s series finale at Fenway Park.
Meidroth will get some time to let his thumb heal, as the White Sox placed him on the 10-day injured list and selected the contract of infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Charlotte. Left-handed starter Martin P¨¦rez was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Dalbec on the 40-man.
P¨¦rez exited Friday¡¯s start after three innings and 52 pitches with left elbow inflammation, using cautious tones to describe how he felt after the abrupt ending to his night. Despite Monday¡¯s move, the White Sox are still uncertain as to the long-term prognosis for P¨¦rez.
¡°We know at least 60 days,¡± said manager Will Venable of P¨¦rez, who is back in Chicago for further evaluation. ¡°He feels, I think, better than he did after the first day, but still too early to really speculate on what this timeline is going to be. So we'll see here in the next couple of days what we¡¯ve got.¡±
Since arriving from Charlotte on April 11, Meidroth has made his presence felt with a .269 average, .387 on-base percentage and the ability to play solid defense at second base and shortstop. He was doing that damage with a slight obstruction at the plate.
The injury originally happened while he was swinging in a game at Charlotte, but quickly settled down after he took a couple of days off.
¡°As soon as I got back up, I started feeling it again. I¡¯ve been playing through it for about a week now,¡± Meidroth said. ¡°It got to a point where we thought the best decision for it was to shut it down a little bit.¡±
¡°It's the best thing for him and for the team. We¡¯re early in this, and it just hasn't gone away,¡± Venable said. ¡°So just give him his 10 days and let him put it behind him.¡±
Dalbec, 29, was slashing .326/.354/.696 with three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 13 RBIs with Charlotte this season after signing a Minor League contract with the White Sox on Jan. 7. He will wear uniform No. 31 and joins the Boston-influenced chapter of the White Sox after arriving to face his former team late Sunday night.
¡°Funny thing, right. Full circle,¡± said Dalbec, who can play first and third. ¡°I thought about this kind of situation happening, but maybe not an 11 a.m. game. But it¡¯s great to be back and see guys after the game, touching base with everyone.¡±
¡°Bobby is a good guy and he works hard,¡± Boston manager Alex Cora said. ¡°Defensively, he's great. He¡¯s great at first, he's great at third base. You can put him anywhere, and he'll make the plays. But offensively, he knows it, and everybody knows it. There's more. And approach wise, we tried to do our best to push him there, but he never transformed. But overall, he did his job here.¡±
No replacement starter has been named for P¨¦rez on Wednesday at Target Field. Bryse Wilson, Tyler Gilbert and Mike Vasil are all possibilities, with Wilson standing as the early favorite. The White Sox will have time to figure out if one starter will replace P¨¦rez or they will be flexible.
Losing P¨¦rez is a tough break for the team both on and off the field. He¡¯s also the eighth White Sox pitcher since just before Spring Training to suffer an arm issue, with Drew Thorpe, Ky Bush, Mason Adams, Prelander Berroa, Juan Carela, and Minor Leaguer Blake Larson undergoing Tommy John surgery and Gus Varland working his way to a return for Charlotte.