The Chicago White Sox received some good news on the injury front Tuesday afternoon. According to manager Tony La Russa, outfielder AJ Pollock will likely return to the team on Friday.
Pollock tweaked his right hamstring rounding first base in the third inning of a game in Detroit on April 9. Prior to the injury, he went 4-for-7 at the plate with an RBI. Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, and Adam Engel have seen time in right field with Pollock on the shelf.
The White Sox acquired Pollock in a trade that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers on April 1. Right field has been a sore subject for the White Sox in recent memory. The South Siders have lacked meaningful and consistent production from the position since Jermaine Dye’s departure in 2009.
Acquiring Pollock addressed that vacancy in win-now fashion. It was a move reminiscent of, ironically, trading for Kimbrel at the deadline in 2021. It’s a signal to the fans that the front office is serious about taking advantage of this competitive window.
Pollock is an accomplished veteran with 11 years of MLB experience. Most notably, he’s a former All-Star with over 100 playoff at-bats and a World Series title on his resume. Overall, Pollock is a huge upgrade for the White Sox despite not playing in more than 117 games since 2015.
Timing is Everything
AJ Pollock’s presence in the lineup provides a big lift for the Chicago White Sox offense. The team is currently down two starters and key run producers in Yoan Moncada and Pollock. But the veteran outfielder’s return comes at an ideal time.
The White Sox begin a three-game series on the road against division rival Minnesota on Friday. Pollock will surely provide a boost offensively. Sox hitters produced just nine runs in three games — though they won two of those three contests — in their most recent series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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