In only the third game of the season, the injury bug bit Eloy Jimenez.
The oft-injured White Sox slugger, who was serving as the designated hitter Sunday, pulled up lame running to first base on a groundout in the sixth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Tigers, who swept the opening series.
Manager Pedro Grifol said the Sox will see how Jimenez (sore left adductor) feels Monday, and they’re prepared to make a roster move if needed.
Jimenez said in spring training that it was a goal for him, third baseman Yoan Moncada and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to play 150 games each. Jimenez already could fall behind in that pursuit.
The Sox have seen this story before with Jimenez. The 120 games he played in last season — despite dealing with hamstring and groin injuries — were the most since his rookie season in 2019, which was also his most productive as a major-leaguer (31 home runs, 79 RBI).
The timing of Jimenez’s injury is not ideal. The National League East favorite Braves come to town Monday before the Sox depart on a six-game trip to Kansas City and Cleveland.
With a lineup lacking power, the Sox aren’t the type of team that typically outperforms expectations. Without Jimenez, that seems less likely.
Coming off a 101-loss season, the Sox sought to fix their issues and play on the field by adding veteran defenders to supplement Moncada, Robert and Jimenez.
So far, the defense seems improved, but the trio once again is not going to be healthy at the same time, which has been the story for them.
Out of the three, only Moncada has played at least 100 games multiple times. But even when healthy, they haven’t delivered often enough, considering they’re supposed to be the core of the lineup.
Grifol harped on being sound defensively during spring training because offense can vary. Then the Sox traded ace Dylan Cease to the Padres, leaving Grifol with a largely inexperienced rotation. Now he might have to navigate a critical 2024 season without one of his most potent hitters.
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf fired former general manager Rick Hahn and vice president Ken Williams before the 2023 season was over and kept Grifol with two years left on his contract.
In his second year on the job — and with a new general manager in charge — Grifol wants to turn around the Sox, particularly knowing the 0.0% chance PECOTA gave them to make the playoffs.
“I don’t think I even have to go there anymore with these guys,” Grifol told the Sun-Times last week. “It’s actually permeated through that clubhouse pretty good to where I don’t have to touch it. I know it motivates the s--- out of me. Zero point zero? That means, why play?”
Depending on the severity of Jimenez’s injury, the Sox might have to play without one of their most talented players. How they navigate this stretch could shape their season.
