Abreu expected back in Sox' lineup Monday

Before Sunday's game against the Padres, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said it is the club's intention to activate first baseman Jose Abreu from the disabled list for Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I'm ready," Abreu said through a translator. "A little anxious to get it started, but I'm ready."

Abreu participated in a simulated game before the Sox' 4-1 victory Sunday. It was the second day in a row Abreu took part in a simulated game.

Hahn said the White Sox opted for the simulated-game approach over a rehab assignment in the minor leagues because the team is traveling to California to play the Dodgers and Angels this week and they didn't want to fly Abreu all over the country when they felt he was really close to being able to perform at the big-league level.

Hahn said he understands that there might be some rust for Abreu in his first few games back.

"Anytime you've missed a couple of weeks, you're going to accumulate a little rust, and this isn't any exception," Hahn said. "Coming back against (Dodgers starting pitcher) Clayton Kershaw is probably not ideal in terms of shaking off that rust.

"After talking it over with him and Robin and the coaches, it makes the most sense to get going (Monday)."

Pitchers on draft radar:

The amateur draft begins Thursday, and the White Sox hold the No. 3 pick. Doug Laumann, the Sox' director of amateur scouting, said the team has narrowed down the draft pool to a group of six players for that No. 3 pick, five of them being pitchers.

"So I'm really confident we're going to wind up with a real nice arm," Laumann said.

High schoolers Brady Aiken and Tyler Kolek and college pitchers Carlos Rodon, Aaron Nola and Kyle Freeland have been in the Top 10s of several expert mock drafts.

Laumann said the Sox were not leaning one way or another when it came to choosing a high school or a college pitcher.

"You certainly look at the history," he said. "You've got a little bit more history in terms of their arm whether or not they've made it through the three years of college without getting hurt and things like that.

"At the same time the competition level and the arrival time at the big leagues certainly makes a difference.

"But when you're looking at who might have the highest ceiling and you're looking at certain kids who are only 17, 18 years old and still look like they have the ability to get better, it's kind of a hard thing to weigh one against the other."

While GM Rick Hahn knows the No. 3 pick draws most of the attention, he wants it to be known that the draft process is about so much more than the very high selection.

"Really, this is about us spending in excess of 10 million dollars on amateur talent in the next few weeks or months before the signing period ends," Hahn said. "We're going to follow that up internationally by spending $4 (million) to $4½ million or so based on our bonus allotment.

"We're really now entering a 6-8 week period here where conceivably we are going to be adding 15 million dollars in amateur talent to our organization, which is going to be a huge shot in the arm for the system as well as allow us to continue moving the organization where we want it to be."

Semien sent down:

After Sunday's game, the White Sox optioned infielder Marcus Semien to Triple-A Charlotte. Semien has batted .218 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI in 43 games this season.