White Sox Option Baldwin, Reinstate Sosa, and Send Ellard on Rehab Assignment

Ellard Heads to Charlotte on Rehab Assignment

The White Sox also announced that left-hander Fraser Ellard has been sent to Charlotte to begin a rehab assignment. Ellard has been on the 15-day injured list since early May with a lat strain. Chicago transferred him to the 60-day IL on June 8.

After a previous hamstring injury and a brief return, Ellard again landed on the shelf. The White Sox bullpen desperately needs swing-and-miss stuff, and Ellard is one of the few arms in the organization who’s shown the ability to miss bats consistently.

If healthy, he could provide some much-needed help in a relief corps that’s seen more turnover than traction.

What’s On Tap Next?

The White Sox will face the St. Louis Cardinals this week at Raye Field. While the team continues to flirt with respectability at home, the next road trip looms, which hasn’t gone well.

Baldwin’s return could come sooner rather than later, especially if the White Sox trade Mike Tauchman or another outfielder. Lenyn Sosa’s leash might be a little longer this time, but nothing is guaranteed when every roster spot feels like a game of musical chairs.

In the meantime, the White Sox bullpen quietly crosses its fingers that Ellard’s rehab goes smoothly. Because at this point, a lefty who can get whiffs is about as rare on the South Side as a win on the road.