Danny Farquhar continues to take important steps in his recovery from a brain hemorrhage. Farquhar, who was released from the hospital on Monday, was a visitor in the White Sox’ clubhouse Tuesday afternoon.
“Not many people can make it through that surgery,” Sox pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said. “And just to have him around here … he was loving life just being around the guys.”
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Gonzalez said Farquhar, who was accompanied by his wife, Lexie, was in excellent spirits.
“He was like, ‘Man, I’m so excited to come back and see you guys and be around you guys,’ ” Gonzalez said. “It’s something special for him to be here. And to go through all of what he did, we’re very happy to see him.
“Hopefully he’ll be able to come and play baseball again.”
Farquhar, a 31-year-old right-hander, suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm during a home game April 20 against the Astros.
Here’s manager Rick Renteria talking about Farquhar on Tuesday before the Sox opened a two-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Guaranteed Rate Field.
His neurologist, Demetrius Lopes, said Farquhar, who collapsed in the dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field after pitching two-thirds of an inning against the Astros, will be able to pitch again, but he isn’t clearing him to throw this season to allow Farquhar to fully recover.
Gonzalez said Farquhar talked about “throwing some live BP soon. That’s what he told us.”
“We’re happy to see him, and it was fun to be around him. He came to his locker and saw his locker. There’s really not many words that we can say [about what it’s like] having him around.”
“He looks great, man,” Sox right-hander James Shields said. “He looks amazing. To go through what he did and to see him look how he does was an amazing feeling for us in the clubhouse, and I’m sure it was for him.”
Farquhar’s health has afforded plenty of perspective for the Sox, who are off to a 9-24 start in a rebuilding season.
“Anything like that sure does give you a lot of perspective on everything,” Renteria said. “Everything is relative in terms of its importance. Everything has its place of importance, and in this particular instance, just watching him, I’m sure these guys were very happy that they saw him and to listen to him speak to them. You saw everybody smiling. They’re very, very happy to see him.”
Aches and pains
Yoan Moncada, who went on the disabled list Saturday, will run to test his hamstring Wednesday. He hopes to return next Tuesday, when the Sox play in Pittsburgh.
“They’re doing everything just to make sure that we minimize any aspect that might reoccur,’’ Renteria said.
* With general manager Rick Hahn, Renteria and Don Cooper watching, Gonzalez (right rotator-cuff inflammation) threw live batting practice, getting up and down three times. A minor-league rehab outing is possible.
“We’ll see how he feels [Wednesday], then we can make a determination as to what we will or will not do or how we’ll progress,’’ Renteria said.
*Outfielder Avisail Garcia (hamstring strain) has been taking batting practice and was in the box against Gonzalez.
“As far as how he physically feels in general, he feels good,’’ Renteria said. “No discomfort.”
Crosstown probables
Starting pitchers for the weekend series at Wrigley Field: Friday, Carson Fulmer vs. Tyler Chatwood; Saturday, Shields vs. Jon Lester; Sunday, Lucas Giolito vs. Kyle Hendricks. All games start at 1:20 p.m.
