PITTSBURGH — Outfielder Adam Engel went back on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a strained right hamstring, yet another injury setback and hamstring issue for the White Sox. The team recalled outfielder Luis Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte before opening a two-game series against the Pirates.
It’s the second injury to Engel’s right hamstring of 2021. He strained it while making a play in center field during a Cactus League game in March, then suffered a setback during his rehab before finally returning June 6. This injury ‘‘is a little bit higher,’’ said manager Tony La Russa, who wouldn’t guess how long Engel would be out this time.
‘‘It’s hard for me to see that 10 days from now he’d be good to go,’’ La Russa said.
A former Gold Glove finalist in center field, Engel is batting .241 with three home runs, four RBI and five runs scored in 10 games.
The Sox’ outfield core has been depleted by injuries to Eloy Jimenez (torn chest muscle), Luis Robert (strained hip flexor), Adam Eaton (strained hamstring) and Engel, all of whom are on the IL now. Billy Hamilton (strained oblique) is also out. He’s doing baseball activities with the team, but his return isn’t imminent.
Engel, Eaton, second baseman Nick Madrigal (out for the season), shortstop Tim Anderson, Hamilton and right-hander Michael Kopech have been sidelined with hamstring injuries at some point this season.
‘‘It’s not just us,’’ La Russa said, referring to the rash of injuries around baseball. ‘‘I mean, everybody’s taking hits. You’ve just got to be strong.’’
Gonzalez was batting .195 with three doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored and five stolen bases in 24 games with Charlotte. He made his only appearance with the Sox this season as a defensive replacement April 29 against the Tigers.
Kopech to throw simulated game Friday
Kopech (strained right hamstring) threw a bullpen session and will throw another Wednesday before pitching a simulated game Friday in Chicago. Whether a rehab assignment is necessary is to be determined.
‘‘You need to be just really careful with him [Wednesday],’’ La Russa said. ‘‘And then especially if he does face hitters [Friday], does he throw free and easy? Is the ball coming out of his hand? Does it look like he just needs more work to get sharp?
‘‘You don’t want him to come back and be unfair to him and the club, just cold turkey and not have the proper preparation.’’
‘A Dream Fulfilled’
The kids in the Sox’ ACE program will play a dream game of their own in the cornfields of Iowa.
The Amateur City Elite 14-and-under team will play an exhibition game against an East Harlem- and South Bronx-based DREAM program from New York on Aug. 11, the day before the Sox play the Yankees in the ‘‘Field of Dreams’’ game in Dyersville, Iowa. They’re calling the game ‘‘A Dream Fulfilled,’’ and it will be televised at 5 p.m. on FS1.
The players and coaches also will attend the ‘‘Field of Dreams’’ game — the first major-league game to be held in Iowa — at a temporary ballpark with a potential capacity of 8,000 fans the next night.
