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After 3 elbow operations, Floyd finally feeling fine

Former Chicago White Sox players return to U.S. Cellular Field wearing different uniforms all the time, but Gavin Floyd's visit was anything but routine.

When the ex-Sox starting pitcher came out of the bullpen to pitch for the Indians on Tuesday night, it was extra special.

"Being back here are seeing so many familiar faces, it was weird being on the other side," said Floyd, who was with the White Sox from 2007-13. "It had a little weirdness to it, but at the same time it was cool. It was very familiar. I've been on that mound several times. I definitely had a mixture of emotions."

Floyd made only 5 starts for the Sox in 2013, his final season on the South Side.

He felt elbow pain during an April 27 outing against Tampa Bay and wound up having Tommy John surgery.

Floyd was feeling healthy enough to pitch for the Atlanta Braves last season, but he lasted just 9 starts before suffering a fractured elbow.

Pitching for the Cleveland this spring, Floyd fractured the same elbow and could have decided enough was enough.

"There were a couple of times when you ask yourself, 'Why does this keep happening?' " Floyd said. "But you know me, and you know I trust in God. There are definitely moments of uncertainty, all of those questions you ask.

"As long as He wants me to play, I am going to continue to go out there. I just want to be able to give my all and make sure I've done my part.

"I love baseball. It's fun, it's a blast. I love to pitch."

After signing a one-year, $4 million contract with Cleveland, Floyd missed the first five months of the season and has made 3 scoreless relief appearances since coming off the disabled list.

The 32-year-old pitcher had surgery in March to repair the latest elbow fracture, and said he now feels great.

"I had eight screws and a plate put in," Floyd said before grabbing his smartphone and pulling up a picture of the postoperative X-ray. "We went to the extreme and tried to really lock it in this time."

Finally feeling good, Floyd said he is looking forward to pitching somewhere in 2016.

"It's nice to feel no pain and be able to throw again," he said. "I'd love to continue playing."

Understanding Avi:

When it comes to Avisail Garcia's performance, the White Sox have been quick to point out this is the 24-year-old right fielder's first full season in the major leagues and it's a learning process.

As the end of the season comes into view, Garcia has been a disappointment in the power department. At 6-feet-4, 240 pounds, he was supposed to have more than 12 home runs.

"He's really too big and strong of a guy to be a groundball hitter," manager Robin Ventura said. "To be able to elevate and get it in the air, for some people it's natural, for other people it takes time to learn that and be able to do that. For him, it's been a process of him learning and trying to understand how to get the ball in the air and how to elevate.

"It's gotten better since we first addressed it. For him, I know he's fast and he gets some hits that way, but it's not going to do him a lot of good to be able to do that. It's not going to earn him a great living doing that, either."

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