GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox right fielder Andrew Vaughn was taken off the field on a cart Sunday after making a diving catch and injuring his hip in right-center field.
Vaughn threw the ball back into the infield from his knees and stood up after catching Hanser Alberto’s liner in the gap. He gave a little high five to center fielder Luis Robert, but after taking a couple of steps bent forward with his hands on his knees and signaled to the Sox dugout. Vaughn was assisted onto the cart, accompanied by assistant trainer Josh Fallin.
The Sox said Vaughn left with right hip discomfort. He was being further evaluated Monday by team doctors.
Vaughn, who was replaced by Micker Adolfo, was pegged to split time between right field and designated hitter. Left-handed hitting Gavin Sheets, switch-hitting super utility Leury Garcia and former Gold Glove candidate Adam Engel are also in the right field mix.
Michael Conforto is still available in the free agent market, but the Sox have not been linked in the offseason to the left-handed hitting right fielder, who is represented by Scott Boras. The market for Conforto has been cool, and it’s possible he’d be open to a one-year deal, although he will cost the team that signs him a compensatory draft pick.
Last spring, left fielder outfielder Eloy Jimenez suffered a torn pectoral muscle and outfielder Engel tore a hamstring, prompting the Sox to convert Vaughn, a first baseman, into a left fielder.
Vaughn adapted and played well defensively and batted .235/.309/.396 with 15 homers and 48 RBI in 127 games last season.
Burger hurt, too
Infielder Jake Burger also left the game, with left ankle discomfort. Burger had an infield single in the sixth and was doubled up at second base on a double-play. He did not appear to be running at full speed into second and was replaced in the field that inning.
Burger is day-to-day.
Yoelqui homers off Buehler
Yoelqui Cespedes added a homer against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler to the pair of Cactus League homers he has this spring. Cespedes hit a two-strike breaking ball that Buehler left up in the zone.
“He can do anything on the field right? La Russa said. “Hit, throw, yeah.
“[Buehler’s] not just a major leaguer. He’s an elite Major Leaguer.”
The Sox’ other top Cuban outfield prospect, Oscar Colas, is batting .270 with three homers in minor league games this spring. Colas was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in a split-squad opening game against the Cubs but has played in minor league games since.
Broadcast news
Radio voice Len Kasper is doing five national broadcasts for FOX this season, including four Sox games: Braves at Padres April 16 (FS1), Angels at Sox April 30 (FS1), Cubs at Sox May 28 (FOX), Cleveland at Sox July 23 (FOX), Athletics at Sox July 23 (FOX).
