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Abreu's numbers add up to awards

As the individual awards continue rolling in, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is running out of things to say.

"I don't really like to talk about myself a lot, but I am surprised," Abreu said through a translator Monday after winning American League Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors for July. "I wasn't expecting to have all this success and definitely all these awards."

The latest haul actually should come as little surprise, considering Abreu batted .374 with 11 doubles, 6 home runs and 19 RBI while hitting safely in 24 of 25 games last month.

"I definitely give credit to being more patient at the plate, swinging at better pitches and having a plan," he said.

Abreu won AL Player of the Month honors in April and July, a major-league first for a rookie.

He has been voted AL Rookie of the Month three times (April, June, July), only the fourth player in history to accomplish the feat.

"It's not surprising," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You're happy for him. He's had a great month, and he gets rewarded for it. The kind of teammate he is makes it better. Guys are happy for him."

As he advances into his rookie season and major-league career, Abreu is becoming much more patient at the plate.

"Sometimes the pitchers get you out and sometimes hitters get themselves out," Ventura said. "This past month it's been mostly pitchers getting him out. He hasn't had too many at-bats of going after stuff going out of the zone.

"Early he was swinging pretty good and then he went through a period of trying to do too much hitting too many homers and swinging at a lot of pitches."

Garcia OK:

Avisail Garcia had to exit Sunday's rehab game with Class AAA Charlotte after being hit by a pitch near the left triceps.

But the White Sox' right fielder, who has been out since April 10 after having left-shoulder surgery, is scheduled to return to the Knights' lineup Tuesday.

"Avi's doing good," manager Robin Ventura said. "They got X-rays, and they were negative."

Garcia is 5-for-10 (all singles) on his rehab assignment.

Putnam progressing:

The White Sox' bullpen will take all the help it can get, and Zach Putnam's return should provide a boost.

On the disabled list with right-shoulder inflammation, Putnam felt good after throwing off the mound twice at U.S. Cellular Field last week.

He's scheduled to pitch 1 inning for AAA Charlotte on Tuesday and should be able to come off the DL and rejoin the Sox in Seattle this weekend.

"He's on track right now," manager Robin Ventura said.

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