CLEVELAND — The White Sox purchased the contract of infielder Danny Mendick from Class AAA Charlotte and recalled right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey, catcher Zack Collins and outfielder Daniel Palka from Charlotte Tuesday. Right-hander Jose Ruiz will be added Wednesday, general manager Rick Hahn said.
Outfielder Jon Jay was transferred to the 60-day injured list, making room for Mendick on the 40-man roster.
No other additions to the expanded September roster will be made, Hahn said. As expected, prized outfield prospect Luis Robert and 2018 No. 4 overall pick Nick Madrigal were not among those called up.
“Obviously he had an outstanding season,” Hahn said of Robert. “He surpassed out development goals for 2019. It was about getting Luis a full season of being healthy and having him perform well at an advanced level considering his age (22). He surpassed both of those.”
Robert, batted .328/.376/.624 with 32 homers, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 92 RBI and 36 stolen bases in a career high 122 games between Class A Winston-Salem, AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte.
“Instead of adding a fourth level in a single year and increasing his career high in games, as much fun as it would have been to see him in Chicago, sometimes it’s our job to say ‘enough,’ this has been a very successful season,” Hahn said. “It’s time to go home, shut it down, rest, recover and come back next season ready for even greater challenges.”
The Sox gain an extra year of player contract control by not calling up Robert until April next season. Hahn maintained that was not a consideration.
“None,” he said.
Mendick, 25, batted .279/.368/.444 with 26 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBI, 75 runs scored and 66 walks over 133 games with Charlotte this season. He appeared in 48 games at second base, 42 at shortstop, 35 at third and nine in left field after making a strong showing with the Sox during spring training.
Mendick has no major-league experience and will wear uniform No. 20.
Covey, 28, is 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 13 games with Charlotte in 2019 and 1-7 with a 6.88 ERA over 16 games (10 starts) with the Sox.
Collins, 24, spent most of the season at Charlotte, hitting .282/.403/.548 with 19 home runs over 88 games. The Sox’ first-round draft pick in 2016 (10th overall), Collins struggled in his major league debut, going 2-for-26 with a home run from June 18 to July 15.
Palka, 27, led the Sox in homers as a rookie with 27 last season but slumped mightily to open this season. He was was 1-for-45 with the Sox, but hit .263/.374/.527 with 27 homers and 72 RBI over 106 games with the Knights in 2019.
Ruiz would have been added Tuesday but has only been on option for nine day. With the moves, the 40-man roster is at 40. The Sox active roster is at 31, including 16 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders.
The call-ups join the White Sox struggling during a seven-game losing streak. The Sox play the Indians Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series.
