White Sox still dealing with lengthy injury list

The White Sox announced Nick Madrigal had season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a torn right hamstring, becoming the third key player to go down with a major injury this season.

Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert are the two others, but the Sox still have a lengthy list of lesser ailments.

Michael Kopech has been on the injured list since May 27 with a strained left hamstring, and he threw off the mound before Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay.

Call it a good and bad session.

"I think there were a lot of positives to it," manager Tony La Russa said. "I still don't think his leg is 100% comfortable with some of the maneuvers that you have to do in your delivery, especially maybe even running. So improving, but still not a green light to where we think we know when he'll actually pitch again."

Given the lengthy layoff up to this point, Kopech is almost certain to go on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment before rejoining the White Sox down the road.

Yoan Moncada missed all three games vs. the Rays with a sinus infection. The third baseman is hoping to be back in the lineup Thursday night at Houston.

The Sox's outfield has undoubtedly missed Jimenez and Robert, two of the top young players in baseball.

But they are still missing veteran Billy Hamilton, who provided sparks on offense and defense before landing on the IL with a right oblique strain on June 6.

"He's getting better," La Russa said. "But he still hasn't taken serious (batting practice) and stuff."

Adam Engel returned from his rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte to replace Hamilton, but he's being eased back into the lineup after missing over two months with a right hamstring injury.

Engel is on a schedule of playing every other day and he wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday.

"We just go without him, that's just the way it is," La Russa said. "This one is entirely driven by the medical team."

Adam Eaton, who is batting .147 over his last 34 games, is still dealing with a sore right hamstring and he also sat out Wednesday.

"He's had some leg miseries," La Russa said. "He's a vet, he knows the difference between sore and hurt. He's played through it, but there's some times we've had to back him off."