Freak injury sidelines White Sox' Braden Shewmake 2-4 weeks

MESA, Ariz.— Middle infielder Braden Shewmake will be out two to four weeks with a sprained left ankle, the White Sox said Sunday.

Shewmake, who might have been the leading candidate to earn the utility infield Opening Day roster spot, was hurt during the Sox’ split-squad game against the Mariners on Saturday. After flying out to right field in the fifth inning and taking his position at shortstop, he hobbled back to the dugout.

“He went out to the field, bouncing around like he always does, and [when first baseman Andrew] Vaughn called his name to do something, he turned around, and his spike got caught,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He knew he had sprained it pretty good. I saw him walking around today, and they didn’t even think he was going to be able to do that. He’s a quick healer. It’s amazing how that works: You want to make a team, you heal quickly.”

Shewmake singled his first time up and stole second base.

The sprain is not of the high-ankle variety, which bodes well for his recovery time.

Shewmake, who’s on the 40-man roster, is batting .219/.235/.313 with no walks and six stolen bases in six attempts this spring. He was acquired from the Braves in the six-player deal for Aaron Bummer in December.

Danny Mendick and Zach Remillard, both non-roster invitees, are the co-favorites to back up third baseman Yoan Moncada, shortstop Paul DeJong and second baseman Nicky Lopez.

A .250/.310/.407 career hitter with 53 stolen bases in 354 games in the minor leagues, Shewmake appeared in two games for the Braves last season, going 0-for-4.

Fletcher’s lackluster spring

Dominic Fletcher was hitless with two strikeouts in three at-bats Sunday and is 7-for-44 with 18 strikeouts this spring, a lackluster showing for the leading candidate to be the regular right fielder.

Acquired in a trade with the Diamondbacks for Cristian Mena, the left-handed-hitting Fletcher, 26, hasn’t squared up an overabundance of pitches, but Grifol said he’s not alarmed.

“No, because his swing decisions have been good,” Grifol said. “His swing decisions are something we focus on. And there’s nothing alarming. If he was kind of overswinging at pitches out of the strike zone or swing decisions were poor, then maybe.”

Fletcher batted .301/.350/.441 in 25 games in his first season in 2023.

“He’s got knowledge of the strike zone, understands the strike zone,” Grifol said. “Really good defensive player. Just a smart, smart guy.”

Shuster optioned

Left-hander Jared Shuster, another acquisition in the trade with the Braves, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

Shuster was roughed up for seven runs in 2⅔ innings against the Giants on Saturday. He re-entered after failing to finish an inning and ended his outing with a scoreless inning.

Forty-nine players remain in camp: 28 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders and nine outfielders.

Sox 3, Athletics 3

Gavin Sheets, who might be an odd man out on the Opening Day roster despite his good spring (.300/.383/.550), hit his fourth double and a go-ahead home run, his second, in the ninth inning Sunday. Jonathan Cannon (four strikeouts, no walks), who was trying to complete his fourth scoreless inning in the ninth, allowed a tying homer to Will Simpson.

† Korey Lee (.350/.383/.550), who has been the Sox’ best-performing catcher in camp with an exceptional arm and improved swing after extensive work in the offseason, clubbed an opposite-field homer against lefty Trevor May, his third, to tie Paul DeJong for the team lead. Lee, 25, is likely the odd man out behind veterans Martin Maldonado and Max Stassi, though.

† Eloy Jimenez, who was given “a break” the last three games, returned to the lineup and went 0-for-3, hitting three balls on the ground, one into a double play. Jimenez has run well, and he scored from first on Sheets’ double.

† On deck: Guardians at Sox,
3:05 p.m. Monday, Glendale, Tanner Bibee vs. Drew Thorpe.