It's 'a really good day' for Chris Sale, who throws 60 pitches

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox ace Chris Sale threw 60 pitches off the mound Friday, and the lefthander remains on track to avoid missing a significant amount of time because of a foot and ankle injury, general Rick Hahn said.

“Sale had a really good day today,” Hahn said.

Sale threw four sets of 15 pitches in a live bullpen session “that pretty much for the most part was full bore,” Hahn said. “And he remains on track to not miss significant time.”

Sale suffered an avulsion fracture and ankle sprain on his right (landing) foot on Feb. 27 in an accident at his home. The Sox projected that he would miss three weeks, and his bullpen session Friday — his first off a mound since he got hurt — came three weeks after. Opening Day is April 6, and the Sox remain hopeful Sale can pitch by the second or third week of the season. Sale has started the last two openers for the Sox.

“We aren’t for the reasons Chris eloquently said going to set a specific date,” Hahn said. “We’re working with what we expect internally in terms of the timing of him coming back and so far knock on wood he is progressing as we had hoped.”