CLEVELAND — Every time Eloy Jimenez’ potent bat is out of the lineup because of a mishap in the outfield, questions are raised about the left fielder’s defensive limitations and his future as a left fielder.
Jimenez returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing almost three full games after he ran into the left field wall chasing the Twins’ Jake Cave’s home run at Guaranteed Rate Field. Jimenez began to feel “super dizzy” from the blow and while under concussion protocol, his bat – a potential force in the middle of the Sox lineup for years to come – was missed.
As manager Rick Renteria said, “there’s an understanding of where the [warning] track is at.”
As Jimenez said, “I’ve had two fights with the wall and the wall beat me twice. Wall 2, Eloy zero.”
Jimenez went on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right ulnar nerve last July when he collided with Charlie Tilson in the outfield, and was sidelined 3 ½ weeks with a high right ankle sprain when he crashed into the wall chasing a home run against the Tigers on April 26.
In 122 games, he hit 31 homers and drove in 79 runs. Had he stayed healthy, he might have approached 40 homers.
“I think he’ll learn from that experience,” Renteria said. “We definitely talked about it almost immediately after it happened.
“He’s getting better out there and again, I’ll continue to reiterate my belief that he’ll be a very good left fielder for us.”
Say this for Jimenez, he has worked at getting better and he said the work won’t stop.
“I feel really comfortable [in the outfield],” he said. “It just happened. It was something I never expect. But I keep working and getting better.”
Lambert to IL
Right-hander Jimmy Lambert, who was off to a promising start with two scoreless relief appearances in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, was placed on 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain. Right-hander Matt Foster was recalled from the Schaumburg training facility.
Lambert pitched the ninth inning in the Sox’ only victory, against the Twins Sunday, and he worked the fifth inning of the Sox’ 5-3 loss to the Indians in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Lambert allowed one hit and struck out one.
Foster, 25, combined to go 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA, five saves and 74 strikeouts over 43 relief appearances and 64 2⁄3 innings between Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte last season. He averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and limited opponents to a .211 batting average.
Lambert was pitching in relief but has been viewed as a potential starter in the near future.
Foster, who has no major-league experience, has been working with the taxi squad in Schaumburg, where live batting practice and bullpens ruled the day.
“It was kind of laid back in terms of letting us do things on our own and get ready, but it’s also you go out there and get after it,” he said.
This and that
Infielder Cheslor Cuthbert cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Schaumburg training facility.
*Head athletic trainer Brian Ball has been away from the team attending to a personal matter (unrelated to COVID-19). Assistant trainer James Kruk is assuming Ball’s role during his absence.
