The White Sox have placed right fielder Nomar Mazara on the 10-day injured list, the team said Wednesday.
The season starts Friday, and not having Mazara means Adam Engel or Leury Garcia could start in right field when the Sox host the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Sox are expected to announce their Opening Day roster Thursday afternoon.
The Sox did not give a reason for the Mazara move. After he was sidelined a fourth straight day Tuesday, manager Rick Renteria repeated as he has said in recent days that Mazara was “under the weather.”
When a player goes on the injured list with no explanation, it points to the coronavirus as a possible reason, especially when it’s known the player hasn’t been feeling well. Teams aren’t required to reveal if players test positive.
When third baseman Yoan Moncada and right-hander Jose Ruiz went on the IL on July 10, no reasons were given at the time. Moncada, who like Ruiz was asymptomatic, confirmed he tested positive when he returned to the team last week.
As for the Sox’ options to fill the left-handed hitting Mazara’s spot in right field, the right-handed hitting Engel and switch hitting Garcia started there in exhibition games against the Cubs Sunday and Monday.
Garcia has been working mostly at second base in spring training and summer camp. Prospect Luis Basabe, a switch hitter, played right field in intrasquads before going down with a bruised foot. Left-handed hitting Nicky Delmonico has played on left field and first base in the majors, but he finished the game Monday in right field, catching the final out.
Both Engel, a Gold Glove candidate in center field in 2018, and Garcia, who played 80 games in center last season, have more range and are better defensively than Mazara, who was the preference in right field because of his offense, especially against right-handers.
The Sox liked the upside and power potential of Mazara, 25, when they acquired him from the Rangers in the offseason in a trade for outfield prospect Steele Walker. He slashed .268/.318/.469 with 19 home runs last season, and has talked positively about adjustments he has made with Sox hitting coach Frank Menechino.
