The Chicago White Sox are possibly the team that inspires the least amount of hope right now.
They are now 27 and a half games behind the leaders in the American League Central with a record of 17–52. The MLB’s unquestionably worst team is ranked 29th in ERA and home runs allowed, has an eye-gouging -150 run differential, and is bottom in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.
The worst thing is that Chicago hasn’t even reached its lowest point yet. The Sox’s whole makeover won’t start until they sell AL strikeout leader Garrett Crochet, 2023 All-Star Luis Robert Jr., and a few other players before the July 30 trade deadline. If Eloy Jimenez is able to remain off the disabled list for a prolonged period of time, he may find himself included in that group of inevitable exits.
The outfielder and designated hitter seems to be returning to the White Sox at last, based on the most recent information. The team’s official X account states that he is starting a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League.
After missing a few weeks in April due to an abductor strain, Jimenez has been out since May 21 due to a hamstring issue. The 2020 Silver Slugger is undoubtedly happy to be back in action and getting closer to making a major league comeback, as he voiced frustration over experiencing a setback in his recuperation at the end of last month.
Given that Chicago’s 2024 season was never going to happen in the first place, a hero isn’t going to step into the batter’s box and make the team relevant again. Still, a healthy Eloy Jimenez can at least entice the ardent supporters to spend money on games.
Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox is in dire need of some good news.
In spite of their current suffering and the agony that lies ahead, the White Sox are beginning to play with some grit. That may sound like a ridiculous thing to say about a team that has lost 22 of its previous 25 games, but aside from a 14-2 thrashing at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the team’s last six losses have all come by one run, in extra innings, or by walk-off home run.
Even if Guaranteed Rate Field is surrounded by gloomy sky, Chicago is at least handing away victories instead of getting destroyed every night. When Jimenez returns to the team, maybe he can help convert some of those losses into victories.
The 27-year-old, who is prone to injuries, is constantly a prospect to move up to the next level of talent but is never well enough to establish himself as an elite hitter. Nonetheless, he has shown some promise. Eloy Jimenez batted.295 and blasted 16 home runs in just 84 games in 2022. Prior to struggling in the first part of the 2024 campaign, he produced work worthy of note once more the previous year.
The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is having a good year.In 36 games this season, he has scored 231 with five home runs, 12 RBIs, an OPS+ of 90 (the league average is 100), and three stolen bases. Despite Jimenez’s tremendous offensive potential and an impending $16.5 million club option, the organisation might decide to break things off.
In the next month or so, this slugger should ideally crush MLB pitchers and establish himself as a serious trade candidate. If he ends up with a potential playoff team, the White Sox may be able to recruit players who are more in line with their long-term plan. The Arizona Complex League is the first step towards what could be the best-case situation for both parties.
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