Home Run Derby for White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez might have to wait

BOSTON — The eight Home Run Derby participants will be announced during the first week of July, and while the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is known to already have been invited, another rookie with home-run pop — the White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez — hasn’t gotten a call.

The Indians’ Carlos Santana also has reportedly received an offer to participate in the competition July 8 in Cleveland, which is offering a $1 million prize to the winner this year.

Jimenez, whose 12 home runs have averaged 421 feet, is not fretting about the snub.

“The time is going to come,” Jimenez said. “I don’t worry about it. If they ask me, it’s OK. If they don’t, I’m OK with that, too.”

If not, Jimenez will root for his friend Guerrero.

The 22-year-old signed to a $43 million contract before playing his first game entered the game Tuesday against the Red Sox hitting .324/.393/.635 with six homers in his last 21 games.

He hit a light tower in a minor-league home-run contest as a prospect with the Cubs in 2017, so there’s that. And while he’s leery of being tempted to “try to pull everything,” Jimenez doesn’t have as many reservations about home-run contests as Sox slugger Jose Abreu does.

“They’re good because you put on a show for people,” he said.

The McCann vote

Voting for All-Star starters takes place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to Thursday at 3 p.m., with catcher James McCann the only Sox player in the final three at his position. Gary Sanchez will be the likely winner, but McCann — second in online voting in the “Primary” phase leading up to the final vote — should make the team.

“It’s a dream as a little boy to be a major-league All-Star,” McCann said. “I would love to be there. It would be an awesome moment for me and my family and my career. At the same time, my focus is today and taking care of what we have to take care of here.”

Filling up the rotation

The Sox, who started Carson Fulmer on a bullpen day Tuesday, have only three starting pitchers — Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Ivan Nova, all right-handers — at the ready.

Dylan Covey is making his first minor-league rehab start Wednesday for Class AAA Charlotte since going on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Covey will be limited to 50 pitches and probably two or three innings, manager Rick Renteria said.

After the day off Thursday, Nova and Giolito will line up Friday and Saturday, but a starter is needed for Sunday. One potential candidate is left-hander Hector Santiago, signed to a minor-league deal last week after being designated for assignment by the Mets. Santiago threw 72 pitches in five innings of one-run ball for Charlotte on Tuesday.

The Sox will trudge through this trying situation “without making drastic changes,” Renteria said. “It’s just where we’re at right now. I’m sure other clubs have to deal with things like that at some point in time. These guys are doing the best they can under the circumstances.”

Sanchez not available

Yolmer Sanchez was sent back to the team hotel with a high fever and upper-respiratory issues, leaving the Sox a man short. Jose Rondon started at second base for a second consecutive night.