Loaiza sent to minors 'to stretch'
The White Sox need more innings from the 12th pitcher on their roster than Esteban Loaiza is capable of supplying.
Thus, the Sox placed the 36-year-old pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Friday and sent him to Triple-A Charlotte with what was officially termed right shoulder inflammation, though pitching coach Don Cooper said: "He's not hurt."
Loaiza was replaced on the 25-man roster by rookie Adam Russell, who was recalled for the second time this season. Russell joined the White Sox for four games in Toronto earlier this season but did not make an appearance.
"I think we need to stretch him a little bit more," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Loaiza. "I don't want another body. I want another guy who can get people out. (Loaiza) is doing it, but I think we can't use him the way we want to use him.
"Right now we're not in a situation to do anything for him, (in terms of) stretching out his innings. That's why we made that decision."
Loaiza's fastball has topped out at 82 mph in three games with the White Sox since he signed a one-year contract on June 4. In 3 innings with the Sox, he allowed 2 runs (1 earned), struck out one and surrendered a home run.
Loaiza opened the year with the Los Angeles Dodgers but was placed on the disabled list May 8 with tightness and spasms in his right shoulder.
He was designated for assignment upon activation from the DL on May 24, and he hasn't pitched enough since to recapture his velocity.
"He's not up to par," Cooper said. "He's got some soreness, but Esteban has not been throwing prior to us getting him, whatever date that was. He has not been doing a lot of throwing, conditioning, throwing to hitters, sidelines, mound work like we needed to do. We've had all that to do here."
Cooper said the plan is for Loaiza to start for Charlotte on June 16 and 21, throwing 60 pitches or 3 innings, whichever comes first.
"Hopefully, we can build innings so he can give me 3-4 innings," Guillen said. "Last time we used him (Wednesday at Detroit), we used him for 1 inning. I don't think he's the one-inning guy we need. We need more than that."