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Dewayne Wise just latest to be welcomed back to Sox

You can leave in a huff, exit with dignity or simply move on to your next phase of life.

Odds are, you'll be back.

Like most families, the White Sox can be a dysfunctional group. Conversely, they protect their own and never say so long for good.

“We've seen firsthand what the passion of the organization and putting on the uniform again means,” said White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. “You see people throughout our organization who have been with our organization for a long time. I think there's real value there.”

Whether it's crazy uncle Ozzie Guillen, stoic cousin Harold Baines or forgotten stepchild Dewayne Wise, the return door always seems to be open on the South Side.

Wise is the latest returnee, and the 34-year-old outfielder is happy to be back home.

And following another productive game — Wise was 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer and 4 RBI in Wednesday night's 9-5 victory at Toronto — the Sox are thrilled to have him back.

“He's a pro,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Wise. “He's been here and is a good player. He can help us.”

Waived by the New York Yankees on July 23, Wise went home to South Carolina and waited for another job. He was hoping to come back to the Sox, but it was the Blue Jays that called him first.

“I was thinking, ‘Not Toronto again,'” said Wise, who broke in with the Jays in 2000 and played 20 games with Toronto last season. “I like Toronto, but I had some good memories playing in Chicago and was hoping they'd call.”

The White Sox did call, on August 3, and signed Wise to a minor-league contract. When Paul Konerko went on the seven-day disabled list Friday, Wise got the call from Class AAA Charlotte.

The veteran outfielder solidified his roster spot Sunday when reserve outfielder Jordan Danks was optioned back to Charlotte.

The fact that Danks hit a walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning against Oakland on Friday and was shipped out two days later shows you how harsh the business side of baseball can be.

But Wise has experienced much worse treatment as a major-league player, being released or granted free agency 13 times.

Even though he made one of the best catches in baseball history while helping preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game in 2009, the White Sox let Wise walk at the end of the season.

“I've been in that situation so many times in my career,” Wise said. “I don't want to say you ever get used to it, but a lot of the times you never know what's going to happen.

“I'm just glad everything worked out and I'm back here with the White Sox.”

In his second stint with the Sox, Wise has started three games and is 5-for-12 with a home run and 6 RBI.

“You just never know in this game,” Wise said at U.S. Cellular Field last weekend. “I'm just excited to be back here. I still know a lot of the guys here and the team is playing really well.

“I'm just going to try to do what I've always done, pinch run, play defense. Whatever it is, I'm going to be ready and help the team win.”

sgregor@dailyherald.com

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