Colson Montgomery’s left wrist avoided a fracture, but the White Sox shortstop was still sidelined Thursday as Chicago opened a critical final 10-game stretch of its playoff chase. Montgomery was struck on the wrist by a Parker Messick pitch in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Cleveland and later left because he could not swing.
Montgomery remains day to day
Negative X-rays gave the White Sox some relief, though the immediate concern remained Montgomery’s ability to hold and swing a bat. The 24-year-old tested the wrist Thursday, but pain was still limiting him.
Manager Will Venable said Montgomery was receiving treatment and would be evaluated again. Venable said the club could not yet know how quickly the shortstop would respond, but hoped the soreness would ease enough for him to return soon.
- Montgomery was hit on the left wrist during the fourth inning Wednesday in Cleveland.
- He left the game after being unable to take a full swing.
- He missed Thursday’s opener against Detroit.
- Luisangel Acuña started at shortstop in his place.
Even with a rough recent stretch at the plate — 1-for-30 with 18 strikeouts over his last 10 games — Montgomery’s absence leaves a sizable hole in the lineup. His 31 home runs are tied for sixth in the American League, lead all Major League shortstops and set a White Sox single-season record for a shortstop. He passed José Valentín, who hit 30 in 2004.
Montgomery’s 211 strikeouts also place him third on the club’s all-time single-season list. Only Adam Dunn, with 222 in 2012, and Yoán Moncada, with 217 in 2018, have struck out more in a White Sox uniform. Mark Reynolds owns the Major League record at 223, set in 2009.
Chicago looks for other bats to carry the load
The White Sox turned to Tommy Pham, Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle in Thursday’s lineup against left-hander Framber Valdez. Pham had supplied the biggest hit in Wednesday’s loss, driving a go-ahead three-run homer.
Rookie of the Year contender Tristan Peters said the club has spent the season adapting whenever a regular goes down. He pointed to the group’s response when Munetaka Murakami was unavailable and said Grichuk’s recent production has helped cover the gaps.
Peters said Chicago’s hitters had been making harder contact over the previous few days and that the group was eager for the games ahead. With Montgomery’s timetable uncertain, that supporting cast will have to keep the offense moving.
Castillo shifts into relief role
Chicago’s pitching plans are changing, too. David Sandlin was listed as Friday’s starter, although the White Sox could use an opener and have Sandlin handle the bulk of the innings.
Luis Castillo, acquired from Seattle at the Trade Deadline, will not take that start. Venable said Castillo’s next assignment will come from the bullpen, with the club still determining exactly how that relief role will be deployed.
- Castillo has appeared in seven games for Chicago.
- Six of those outings were starts.
- He has worked 29 innings with a 7.76 ERA for the White Sox.
- Sandlin is the scheduled Friday starter, potentially after an opener.
Tim Anderson gets his long-delayed White Sox moment
Thursday also brought a homecoming for Tim Anderson, whose White Sox career once made him one of the sport’s most recognizable shortstops. Chicago honored Anderson following his retirement, with the club wearing its Nike City Connect Southside uniforms against Detroit.
Anderson had been chosen 17th overall by the White Sox in the 2013 Draft, but a previously planned ceremonial first pitch was washed out before fans could enter the ballpark. This time, the weather held and he received the opportunity he had missed.
Anderson said he had kept an eye on the forecast all day. He described his present goal as living freely, happily and peacefully.
Looking back on eight seasons in Chicago, Anderson said he carried few regrets. The one lingering thought, he said, was that he wished he could have remained a White Sox player for his entire career. Leaving Chicago, he said, never felt quite right.
