Two steps forward, one step back.
Just when the White Sox got shortstop Tim Anderson and left fielder Eloy Jimenez back from injuries, third baseman Yoan Moncada has gone down.
Moncada, who was said to be day-to-day with a tight right hamstring after leaving the Sox’ 5-2 loss to the Mets on Tuesday, has a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring and will go on the injured list Thursday.
“He has been a huge piece for us,” manager Rick Renteria said. “Having him go down is kind of a kick in the gut.”
General manager Rick Hahn indicated Moncada likely would be out about two weeks.
Moncada, 24, batting .301/.358/.535 with a career-high 20 home runs and 59 RBI, played half an inning after Anderson returned from a monthlong absence with a high right ankle sprain. Moncada’s 3.0 wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference, is the highest among Sox position players.
“I’m very disappointed,” Moncada said. “This was something unexpected. I don’t even know how that happened.”
Moncada said he felt “discomfort” during batting practice and while taking ground balls Tuesday.
“But it wasn’t a big deal,” he said. “I thought that it would be fine for the game. Then that first play [charging a ground ball in the first inning], I felt it, and that was what happened.”
Moncada came out of the game shortly after fielding that grounder in the first. Ryan Goins played third base Wednesday.
Promotions for first-round picks
Second baseman Nick Madrigal has been promoted from Class AA Birmingham to Class AAA Charlotte and first baseman Andrew Vaughn from Class A Kannapolis to advanced A Winston-Salem.
Vaughn, the No. 3 overall pick in the June draft, hit .253 with two homers, seven doubles, 14 walks and 11 RBI in 23 games with Kannapolis after opening the season with the AZL White Sox (three games). He homered in his first game for Winston-Salem.
Madrigal, selected fourth overall in 2018, opened the year at Winston-Salem and batted .341/.400/.451 in 42 games at Birmingham. He has struck out 11 times between the two levels this season.
“His ball-to-bat skills are virtually unparalleled in the organization, and it’s rare throughout the game to see a guy who can handle the bat the way he can,” Hahn said. “He remains a plus defensive presence at second base and a valuable member of each of the clubhouses he’s been in.”
Farquhar returns to organization
Danny Farquhar, who attempted a comeback with the Yankees after suffering a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage during a game as a Sox pitcher on April 20, 2018, is joining the organization as a minor-league pitching instructor, Hahn said.
“We think he has a great deal of upside and a great future in coaching and player development,” Hahn said.
So long, Nate
The trade of Nate Jones leaves Leury Garcia, who played in 20 games with the Sox in 2013, as the longest-tenured player on the team.
“It’s tough to say goodbye to a guy like Nate Jones,” lefty reliever Aaron Bummer said. “Since the day I got here, he was the guy that always led by example. He’s one heck of a teammate.”
