Engel anxious to rejoin White Sox

When Adam Engel started a rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte on Tuesday, manager Tony La Russa predicted the outfielder would push to rejoin the White Sox as soon as possible.

He was correct.

Before taking the field for the Knights at Norfolk Friday night, Engel said he's prepared to be in the Sox's lineup as soon as Saturday.

"It's been good, I feel like every at-bat I'm getting a little bit closer to where I feel very, very competitive," Engel said before playing his third rehab game. "I feel like I'm able compete. I think if I were to get the call tonight, 'Hey, you're going back to Chicago,' I'd be ready to contribute. I'm not in midseason form yet by any means offensively, but I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot."

After hitting a home run in his first game at Triple-A and stealing a base in his second game, Engel batted leadoff Friday and played center field. He had an RBI single in the second inning and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Out with a right hamstring injury since March 20, Engel was able to keep his swing sharp through much of the down time.

Playing the outfield and running the bases are the bigger concerns, but Engel is showing little rust.

"I feel like it doesn't take as long to get defensively ready as it does getting timing and stuff like that," he said. "It's good to get back out there, get some reads, try and make some quick moves toward balls in the gap, things like that. Leg's feeling really good and I continue to build and hope to get back to Chicago pretty soon."