Aug. 14--White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is too young to have seen Sox legend Minnie Minoso play, but his family told him all about Minoso when he was growing up in Cuba.
Wearing Minoso's No. 9 on Friday against the Cubs will have added meaning for Abreu and fellow Cuban Alexei Ramirez. All of the Sox players will wear 1959 throwback jerseys with the No. 9 on them in honor of Minoso, who died on March 1 at the age of 90.
"He was one of the greatest all time for Cuba and for this team, and it's going to be an honor," Abreu said. "We're going to try to represent in a good way this jersey and his name today.
"When I came to the U.S. and had the opportunity to meet him it was a special moment because all the background that my father told me about him. ... He was a great person, he was outstanding with me and it's an honor when you're able to be around a person as good as him."
The Sox jerseys also have a No. 19 patch on them to honor former Sox great Billy Pierce, who died on July 31.
Adolfo's surgery: White Sox outfield prospect Micker Adolfo had surgery on his left ankle to repair a fractured fibula and ligament damage.
Adolfo, an 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic who is ranked the No. 8 prospect in the Sox system, according to MLB.com, injured his ankle sliding during an Arizona Rookie League game. The Sox expect him to make a full recovery by spring training, and general manager Rick Hahn said they don't think it will have a long-term impact on his career, which is still several years away from major-league possibilities.
"He certainly has youth on his side in terms of this recovery," Hahn said. "We certainly have a great deal of development time ahead of us on our side, so that in all probability this is not a long-term major setback."
Extra innings: Sox second-base prospect Micah Johnson is rehabbing his left hamstring strain in Arizona, and Hahn expects he will return to Charlotte in a week or so. ... Sox utility man Emilio Bonifacio was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after recovering from a left oblique strain. The Sox optioned Leury Garcia to Triple-A Charlotte.
