Eloy Jimenez is back.
The White Sox announced before Sunday’s series finale against Minnesota that the rookie outfielder has been reinstated from the injured list. Jimenez, 22, was placed on the injured list July 17, one day after colliding with Charlie Tilson in the outfield, suffering a right ulnar nerve contusion.
“He’s been doing a lot of work, looks really good,” manager Rick Renteria said. “I’m sure he’ll be a little bit behind, but getting him back in there, just by putting him in there, creates a presence for us.”
The Sox are limiting Jimenez’s time in the outfield for a few days as he continues to throw. But they wanted his bat in the lineup, and decided to bring him back to the majors instead of sending him out on a rehab assignment.
“Obviously getting him back in, first and foremost, is a sign that he’s healthy,” Renteria said. “Secondly, obviously he’s been down a couple weeks, so he might not be as sharp as we want him to be, but he was going to have to get some at-bats some place. I’d rather them be here.”
Jimenez entered Sunday hitting .244 with 17 homers and will add to a lineup that’s needed some help.
“The fact that he stands in the box, there’s a presence there with this kid. And he doesn’t doubt himself one bit,” Renteria said. “All of us talked through what process we would take with him returning. Sometimes you’ve got to listen to them, and sometimes you’ve got to trust those young men and give them an opportunity to speak for themselves and we have to take it to heart.
“And we took an action that puts him back in the lineup, and it makes us feel good that he’s back in there, for sure.”
Jimenez missed a month earlier this year with a right ankle sprain, and he said Sunday it took him a week or a week and a half to get back into rhythm.
”Let’s see what happens today,” Jimenez said. “I don’t know. I’m going to work to be good. But let’s see what happens.”
To make room for Jimenez on the 25-man roster, the Sox designated Jose Rondon for assignment. By designating Rondon, the Sox’ 40-man roster decreases to 39.
