Kinney thrilled to be back in the bigs
It took some time, but relief pitcher Josh Kinney is back in the big leagues.
If Friday’s debut was any indication, the White Sox have themselves a keeper.
Kinney bailed out the Sox’ beat-up bullpen with 3 scoreless innings of work, and the 32-year-old pitcher had 6 strikeouts.
It was a challenging journey back to the majors for Kinney.
In 2006, he had a 3.24 ERA for the Cardinals during the regular season, and Kinney followed with 6⅓ scoreless innings in the postseason to help St. Louis win the World Series.
The following year Kinney had Tommy John surgery on his elbow, and he missed the entire 2008 season after having more surgery when he fractured the elbow on a rehab assignment.
“It’s been a long road for me in my career,” Kinney said. “Just to get the call to come up here with these guys at this time of year, with the position this team’s in, it’s pretty special. I can appreciate that. Forty games left to play and we’re after something. It’s pretty cool and I’m delighted to be here.”
Humber feeling better:Phil Humber still has a bump over his right eye, but that#146;s about the only side effect from being hit in the head by a Kosuke Fukudome line drive during Thursday night#146;s start against the Indians.#147;They#146;ve been checking me a lot but so far I#146;ve passed with flying colors,#148; said Humber, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. #147;My main concern was cheering my wife up. She#146;s pretty broke up about it. It#146;s like a bruise. If I didn#146;t wake up in the morning to see it in the mirror I wouldn#146;t even know I#146;d been hit.#148;Humber needed 18 stitches to repair his right cheek after being hit by a line drive in the face while pitching for Class AAA Omaha last year.Is Humber going to be a little hesitant when he returns to the mound?#147;Last year was a lot worse,#148; Humber said. #147;The funny thing was last year I had blood all over me and I didn#146;t know what was going on. After I got hit, I was basically carried off the field and I was rushed to the emergency room and all that.#147;I pitched nine days later and I didn#146;t have any #133; for a while there I#146;d kind of flinch on groundballs up the middle and stuff. I don#146;t think I#146;ll think about it. I really don#146;t.#148;Reed on fast track:Addison Reed has moved quickly through the White Sox#146; farm system this season.The 22-year-old relief pitcher had a 1.13 ERA in 4 games with Class A Kannapolis, a 1.59 ERA in 15 games with A Winston-Salem and a 0.87 ERA in 13 games with AA Birmingham.Reed is currently pitching for Class AAA Charlotte and has a 1.98 ERA in 7 games.Reliever Josh Kinney, recalled from Charlotte on Friday when Phil Humber went on the disabled list, said Reed has been the real deal.#147;He#146;s very mature for his age, his personality and his game on the field,#148; Kinney said. #147;He#146;s locating the ball down with some heat on it. You get guys that throw 95, 97 (mph) at the knees on the corner, to do that a couple times, you say, #145;Well, that#146;s good. Can you do it again?#146;#147;He#146;s been really consistent. He#146;s got great stuff and really good command. I think we need to see what happens with him.#148;Reed, the Sox#146; third-round pick in the 2010 draft, was a standout relief pitcher at San Diego State. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is likely to join the White Sox when rosters expand in September.