Chicago White Sox looking to emerge from wave of injuries

The "big picture."

Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has talked about it quite a bit the last few seasons, and he forces himself to stare at it as much as possible.

"You try to look at overall where we're headed and how we go about getting there and realize the future still remains very bright," Hahn said. "That's the most important element, the big picture."

As for the current picture, it has remained blurry this season despite a marked improvement over the last two years, when the Sox combined to post a 129-195 record.

There have been the expected growing pains that accompany a rebuild, no question about that.

There also have been a steady flow of injuries, taking down everyone from core young players Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson and Carlos Rodon to promising prospects Michael Kopech, Dane Dunning and Micker Adolfo.

"The injuries did not help us," manager Rick Renteria said. "That's just the nature of the business, the nature of the beast."

Jimenez has been on the injured list twice this season with a sprained ankle and sore elbow. The left fielder is back in the White Sox's lineup, as is Anderson, who missed a month with a sprained ankle.

Moncada is currently on the IL with a strained hamstring.

The list is much longer on the prospect side. Here is a health update:

Kopech

The prized pitching prospect went down with Tommy John surgery last September, a major injury that staggered the 23-year-old righty and the Sox.

The good news?

"Michael will be the first of the group to return based upon the timing of his surgery," Hahn said. "We hope to see him, expect to see him, have no reason not to expect to see him in spring training without restrictions."

If he is up and running at 100 percent in February, Kopech should have plenty of time to shake the rust off, pitch in the Cactus League and break camp in the White Sox's rotation.

Dunning

The 24-year-old righty was steaming toward a spot with the Sox this season, going a combined 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 15 starts with high Class A Winston-Salem and AA Birmingham last year.

Dunning had Tommy John surgery in March. If he can pick up in 2020 where he left off, he could be in the White Sox's rotation in September.

Adolfo

The power-hitting outfielder has had a tough go, missing the second half of last season after having Tommy John surgery and playing only 23 games with Birmingham this year before having arthroscopic elbow surgery to remove scar tissue.

The Sox are hoping the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder can play in the Arizona Fall League when the current minor-league season ends.

"He's progressing in Arizona right now, swinging the bat a little bit," Hahn said. "He's on a throwing program. It's a very good shot that if he continues to progress like this, we'll see him in the AFL and without restrictions as an outfielder."

Jake Burger

The Sox's first-round pick in the 2017 draft sat out of last season after twice rupturing his left Achilles tendon. Burger has not played this year due to a bruised left heel.

"He's starting to have baseball activity down there (Arizona)," Hahn said last week. "He'll be part of our instructional league camp, I suspect."

Jimmy Lambert

Another promising starter, Lambert had Tommy John in mid-June, so look for the 24-year-old righty to be back pitching in the minors toward the end of the 2020 season.

"We're still very bullish on his future and where things are headed with Jimmy," Hahn said.

Zack Burdi

The Downers Grove native is due for some much better luck on the health front.

After recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he had in July 2017, Burdi tore a ligament in his knee before a game with Birmingham in June.

Surgery has sidelined the relief pitcher for the rest of the season and the hope is Burdi is ready to get back on the mound in spring training.