SEATTLE — The White Sox reinstated outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the injured list before their game with the Mariners Wednesday, and Tommy Pham could be right behind him.
The Sox also reinstated right-handed reliever Steven Wilson, who has been on the IL with a back strain since May 20, and designated left-hander Tim Hill for assignment.
Wilson owns a 2.84 ERA in 19 appearances. Hill, signed to a one-year, $1.8 million deal in the offseason, owns a 5.87 ERA in 27 appearances.
Benintendi, on the IL with left Achilles tendinitis, has been rehabbing in games in Arizona. He homered in his last at-bat against the Brewers on June 1 before going on the 10-day IL the following day. He will be on the bench for Wednesday’s game in Seattle and likely in the lineup Thursday.
Duke Ellis, who was called up from Double-A Birmingham last Tuesday, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Benintendi.
On June 2 in Milwaukee, Pham sprained his ankle on a slide into home and landed on the IL the following day. Pham has also been playing in Arizona. If he doesn’t join the team Thursday he will on Friday for the opening of a three-game series at the Diamondbacks.
Benintendi is having the worst start to a season in his career, hitting .195 with five doubles, four home runs and 18 RBI in 51 games this season. He was signed to a five-year, $75 million contract before last season, the richest deal in franchise history.
“It just needs a lot more time to be completely gone but I feel confident being in there now,” Benintendi said Wednesday.
“Just letting it calm down a little bit. It was pretty flared up. I knew when I came out of that game it would probably be 10 days and I try to avoid that, but it was at the point where it was time for me to give this some rest.”
Rest for Robert Jr.
Luis Robert Jr., who has played in seven games since coming off the IL from a hip flexor strain, was rested for the second time.
“He’ll get to a point where we can run him a little bit without having to give him that full day off,” Grifol said. “This is the second time around, we’ll increase it a little bit next time and we’ll play it by ear obviously on how he feels. But he feels good right now.”
This and that
The Sox’ 4-3 loss to the Mariners Tuesday marked the seventh time in their last nine losses in which they led in the seventh inning or later. Cal Raleigh’s two-run double in the seventh against John Brebbia erased a 3-2 Sox lead after Drew Thorp allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings in his debut.
*Rule 5 draft pick Shane Drohan, who underwent shoulder surgery in February, was returned to the Red Sox. The left-hander was DFA’d last week and when no team claimed him, the Sox offered him back to Boston.
