Hammy issues end Garcia’s hot phase
Just when White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia was crushing everything in sight, he returned to the disabled list.
Garcia went on the 10- day DL Tuesday with a strained right hamstring, and the timing couldn’t be worse. He was batting .333 with 13 extra-base hits and 13 RBI in 17 games since returning from the DL with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. His eight homers since June 26 are the most in baseball.
The Sox put Ryan LaMarre, claimed off waivers from the Twins on Monday, on the 25man roster.
Garcia, who has been playing with tight hamstrings in both legs, left the game Sunday in Houston. The Sox expect him back after the AllStar break.
Garcia’s hitting surge rekindled debates about whether he should be included in the Sox’ rebuild. He turned 27 last month, so he could conceivably fit.
“From an age standpoint, absolutely,’’ general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday. “He’s under control right now through 2019, which currently doesn’t overlap with what we project to be the bulk of our potential championship window. So we’re going to have to make a decision on him and others in due course.”
Abreu’s heavy load
Manager Rick Renteria suggested first baseman
Jose Abreu’s recent slump is related to him trying to carry too much on his shoulders on a losing team.
Abreu, who was named Sunday as an American League starter for the All- Star Game, didn’t disagree.
“Yes, I think so,” he said through a translator. “I’ve always wanted to give 100 percent of myself to this organization. And sometimes you take on more responsibility than you should take. But it shows who I am. That’s the way I take care of business.”
But he won’t change.
“I can’t,” he said. “That’s not who I am. It’s never going to happen.”
Rondon down?
Right-hander Bruce Rondon, who was gathering belongings after the game and receiving pats on the back from teammates, likely will be replaced on the 25-man roster Wednesday. Rondon walked three and threw a wild pitch. His ERA climbed to 8.49.
“He’s got a great arm, great stuff, but you have to command and everybody knows at the major-league level, no matter how good your stuff is, you’ve got to hit your spots,’’ Renteria said.
In other news
Pitching coach Don Cooper missed Tuesday’s game after surgery on his right hand Monday. He’s expected back Wednesday.
◆ Sam Esposito, who played nine of his 10 seasons with the Sox and appeared in two games for them in the 1959 World Series, has died at 81.