Nate Jones back in Chicago White Sox' bullpen

Getting back on the mound and facing hitters again wasn't the hard part for Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Nate Jones.

It was the initial reaction to having Tommy John surgery.

"In the beginning it was real tough because you took something away from me that I've done all my life, which is throwing a baseball," Jones said. "I had the surgery and I couldn't do that. To get through that first bit was probably the hardest part, and then once you started throwing you saw a little bit of light and then started throwing (simulation) games and saw the bigger light at the end of the tunnel. Right now is kind of like the icing on the cake."

Just over a year removed from reconstructive elbow surgery, Jones rejoined the Sox before Wednesday afternoon's game against Tampa Bay.

The 29-year-old reliever replaces Daniel Webb, who was put on the disabled list with a back strain.

"He has worked hard," manager Robin Ventura said of Jones. "We've seen him off and on here. He comes in, works and we get some updates. For a guy to have that surgery and work your way back, it's a long road and he deserves to be here."

Jones last pitched on April 3 of last season. The right-hander was sidelined with a hip injury and later hurt his elbow.

He pitched in 3 rehab game with Class A Winston-Salem and 6 games with AAA Charlotte this season, combining to allow 2 earned runs in 9⅓ innings.

Jones' fastball regularly hit 100 mph before the surgery. Can he still throw that hard?

"I couldn't tell you," said Jones, who didn't pitch against the Rays. "It's not something I'm worried with. I'm just worried with how I feel after a game and how I feel the next day so I can come back and pitch. I feel stronger, because I think we cleaned up my mechanics a little bit. We got everything going toward the plate and it makes a lot less stress on everything else on your body. I feel stronger and I feel better."

Sale ailing?

Chris Sale has had some injury issues in the past, and after giving up 14 runs on 18 hits in 10⅓ innings over his last two starts, the obvious question is health.

After getting knocked around against Tampa Bay Tuesday night, Sale said his arm and body "feel good."

Manager Robin Ventura said Sale is going to continue taking his regular turn in the rotation.

"I don't see skipping him," Ventura said. "I know in the past we've done that, but that's with his velocity. He'd start getting low 90s (mph), almost 80s at some point, where most of his pitches were like that. That's not what it is. I think for him, you take your chances with a guy like that.

"If it's something physical, we'd definitely do that. We're always going to err on the side for him to do that, but he doesn't feel that way and we don't feel that way."

Sale was hit by a line drive on his left thigh in a July 30 start at Boston.

"He says he's fine," Ventura said.

Deep thoughts:

Before Tuesday's game against the Rays, slumping right fielder Avisail Garcia said he made two adjustments at the plate.

The first was using his hands more. The second was getting his weight distribution properly balanced.

Garcia homered in his final at-bat on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, the first time he'd cleared the fences since June 8.

In his first at-bat Wednesday, Garcia hit a 3-run homer.

"For him it was get it started a little earlier, be out front," manager Robin Ventura said. "There are a lot of guys throwing hard and you'd rather be a little early than late. If you're late you're not going to be able to hit anything."