Sunday was an important day for Dylan Covey, and not just because he took another step toward returning to the White Sox rotation.
In April, Covey and his wife Kimmie welcomed their first child, a son named Jett Ethan Covey. So Sunday was Covey’s first Father’s Day as a dad, making the day a little extra special.
“Before it was just coming in and congratulating guys, saying happy Father’s Day,” Covey said. “But today, people know this is my first Father’s Day and they are coming up saying happy first Father’s Day.”
Covey said he has video calls with his family every night and sometimes in the morning, and “can’t wait to just be with them.”
“For me, I mean I’ve been away from my baby for two months. It’s been kind of a tough process for me,” Covey said. “I mean, it’s awesome. It’s life-changing for me and I haven’t really spent more than a couple of nights with the baby. I’m sure my life is going to change even more when they get here in 10 days. I’m really excited for it.
“I’m ready to start doing the deeds that a dad does.”
As for his recovery from right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the injured list, Covey threw a bullpen Saturday and from 150 feet Sunday.
“Still day to day. Felt good today,” Covey said. “So, step in the right direction.”
Covey usually throws with a black sleeve on his right arm, but chose to don a light blue Father’s Day sleeve Sunday.
The injured
Yoan Moncada (back) returned to the Sox lineup after missing four games. The Sox had the option of giving Moncada another day before the Cubs series starts Tuesday, but put him back into the lineup.
”I think that yesterday and the day before, he’s been working toward getting back in, went through everything with the trainers, he’s gone through every activity and he feels he’s good to go,” manager Rick Renteria said. “I can only go on what he’s telling me. So fortunately for us, he feels that he’s ready.”
Luckily, the injury seemed minor.
“Any time you take anybody off the field for discomfort, it’s concerning, obviously,” Renteria said. “But everything he’s been doing and the treatments he’s been getting for a muscle strain, basically, in the middle of his back seems to be working.”
New York used right-handed opener Chad Green on Saturday and then went to lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. Knowing the Yankees would go from a righty to lefty early in the game, and concerned about his right-handed side, the Sox chose to give Moncada an extra day.
Renteria said it’s possible Jon Jay (hip) could be back this week.
What about Yonder?
Renteria has begun using James McCann or Welington Castillo at designated hitter. And with Jose Abreu established at first base, that means the struggling Yonder Alonso has been left out. On Sunday, Alonso was out of the lineup for the third straight day and fourth in five, with McCann catching and Castillo at DH.
“He’s been around the block,” Renteria said. “He knows where we’re at right now.”
Alonso’s opportunities have also been limited by the rash of lefties the Sox have faced. That continues this week at Wrigley, when they’ll see Cole Hamels and Jon Lester.
