AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox
Ian Hamilton reached the major leagues barely more than two years after being the White Sox’s 11th-round draft pick.
The right-handed reliever was called up from Class AAA Charlotte (North Carolina) on Aug. 31 when left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for two minor leaguers. Hamilton made his debut that night and pitched one scoreless inning in a win over the American League Eastleading Boston Red Sox.
Hamilton had a combined 1.74 ERA and 22 saves in 43 games with Charlotte and Class AA Birmingham (Alabama) this season.
“Pretty good slider. Downhill tilt, pretty good action,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We like him.”
❚ Right fielder Avisail Garcia continues to have trouble with his right knee and is expected to have surgery at the end of the season. When Garcia was forced from the Sept. 1 game after six innings because of discomfort, he had struck out in all three at-bats, dropping his batting average to .236. He was selected to his first All-Star Game last season.
Cleveland Indians
The addition of Josh Donaldson will cause some infield shuffling.
Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade Aug. 31, Donaldson will be the regular third baseman once he recovers from the strained right calf that has sidelined him since May 29. Third baseman Jose Ramirez will shift to second base, and second baseman Jason Kipnis will be used in a utility role.
“(Ramirez’s) concern was going back and forth (between second and third), so I told him we wouldn’t do that,” manager Terry Francona said. “I talked to Kip and we knew this would affect Kip more than anybody, and I don’t think he was jumping for joy and I don’t think we expected him to.”
Donaldson was put on the disabled list to begin a rehab assignment and hit a grand slam Sept. 3 in his first game at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio).
“When he’s in that batter’s box, he’s one of the guys who you think, ‘Uh oh,’ ” Francona said.
❚ Left-hander Andrew Miller is doing his third disabled list stint this season, this time because of a strained shoulder. The Indians hope the two-time All-Star can be ready to pitch again by mid-September.
Detroit Tigers
Daniel Norris’ first start after being activated from the disabled list ended abruptly.
The left-hander was lifted in the fifth inning of a loss to the Yankees on Sept. 1 at New York because of cramping in his left calf. He’d been out since April 29 because of a strained left groin that required surgery.
Norris allowed only one hit — a two-run homer by Gleyber Torres in the fifth inning — and had seven strikeouts in 41⁄3 innings. He retired the first 12 batters he faced.
“He’s coming off this groin thing, the surgery, so you have to get him out of there. He tried to stay,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “The ball came out of his hand (well), it’s just the calf was cramping.”
❚ Class AA Erie (Pennsylvania) right-hander Sandy Baez was the only player called up Sept. 1 when the roster limit expanded to 40. The Tigers decided to leave the roster at Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) intact because the Mud Hens were in playoff contention. Baez made his major league debut June 4 by pitching 41⁄3 scoreless relief innings against the Yankees.
Kansas City Royals
Rookie Ryan O’Hearn was getting the majority of the playing time at first base after Lucas Duda was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Surprisingly, O’Hearn has hit better in the majors than in the minor leagues.
O’Hearn, 25, made his bigleague debut July 31 after being brought up from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Nebraska). Through 24 games, the lefthanded hitter was batting .268 with nine homers after posting a .232 average with 11 homers in 100 games with Omaha.
O’Hearn was the Royals’ eighth-round draft pick in 2014.
❚ Another rookie, Cam Gallagher, was the new backup catcher behind six-time All-Star Salvador Perez after Drew Butera was traded to the Colorado Rockies for left-handed reliever Jerry Vasto. Gallagher, 25, played in 13 games with the Royals in 2017 and eight earlier this season. Butera hit .188 with two homers in 51 games with the Royals this season.
Minnesota Twins
Jose Berrios was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time this season. However, the 24-year-old right-hander has struggled since the break.
Berrios had another rough outing Sept. 1 in a loss to the Rangers at Texas. He allowed just three hits in four innings, but all were home runs and he was charged with five runs.
“As a competitor, nobody wants to finish the season the way my last few games have been,” Berrios said.
Berrios was 9-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 20 first-half starts. In eight starts in the second half, however, he is 2-3 with a 4.69 ERA, dropping his overall record to 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA.
❚ Chris Gimenez was reacquired from the Chicago Cubs along with a player to be named or cash Aug. 30 for Bobby Wilson in a trade of backup catchers. Gimenez played in 74 games for the Twins last season, hitting .220 with seven home runs. Wilson hit .178 with two homers in 47 games before going on the disabled list Aug. 24 because of a sprained right ankle.
“I think that they trust what they’re doing out there right now. They’re having a lot of confidence playing the game.”
Rick Renteria White Sox manager, on his team having its first winning month of the season in August