MINNEAPOLIS — The White Sox will play the Field of Dreams game against the Yankees Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa, without manager Tony La Russa, who will be attending the funeral of his sister’s husband in Florida.
Bench coach Miguel Cairo will manage the team, surrounded by former manager Jerry Narron and pitching coach Ethan Katz. La Russa said he will watch the game on TV.
Lance Lynn hadn’t planned on starting the game but got pushed back a day to replace Carlos Rodon, who landed on the 10-day injured list with a sore shoulder.
The specially made 8,000 seat stadium built adjacent to the movie site, surrounded by corn, promises to be quite the spectacle.
“I’m pumped to be there, and I am glad I’m not pitching so I can be there as a fan,” right-hander Lucas Giolito said.
Lynn was on the 2011 Cardinals team that played in the MLB Little League Classic before 2,596 fans in Williamsport, Pa., so teammates have asked him about that experience.
“I say, it’s pretty simple, it’s like you first game in Triple-A when you get in the day of and play,” said Lynn, who will be opposed by Yankees lefty Andrew Heaney.
The Sox were staying in Minneapolis Wednesday night and flying to Dubuque, Iowa, late Thursday morning. Dyersville is a 40-minute bus ride from Dubuque.
“It’s going to be a little bit of a circus, but we don’t have a choice about it, we have to play, they pay us to play so we’re going to go and do it,” Lynn said.
The game, planned for last season but postponed because of the pandemic, has been the talk of MLB.
“Growing up as a Midwest kid, that was a cool movie,” Lynn said. “But half the team is probably too young to realize what the movie was. So for us older guys, it probably has a little bit more meaning to be a part of something like this.”
Grandal goes on rehab assignment
Catcher Yasmani Grandal left for AA Birmingham for a rehab assignment. Grandal has been on the 10-day injured list since July 6 with a torn left knee tendon and is making a fast recovery from surgery.
Grandal has been with the team taking batting practice and catching bullpens.
“I think it’s amazing,” La Russa said. “I’m not exaggerating. He’s been dogged, man, every day just grinding, and it’s paying off. Once he starts playing we’ll get him back sooner rather than later.”
Grandal is hitting .188/.388/.436 with 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 42 runs scored and 60 walks over 63 games.
