RE-ENERGIZED JIMENEZ RETURNS FROM INJURY
Returning Jimenez claims new mindset; Sox flat vs. Astros
HOUSTON — Maybe there was some good in Eloy Jimenez getting a chance to sit back, relax and press the reset button.
Jimenez returned to action Monday night in the White Sox’ 3-0 loss to the Astros after suffering a high ankle sprain crashing into the leftfield wall April 26. He said the three weeks away gave him time to sort things out after he hit .241/.294/.380 with three homers in his first 21 games following much fanfare and the signing of a $43 million contract before his very first game.
Perhaps settling in and trying not to make a headline with every at-bat will be the correct, new mindset. Jimenez said he was thinking postseason on Opening Day and knows now it was much too soon for that.
“When you try to compete for a spot in the playoffs, you want to be a hero,” he said. “I try to be a hero all the time, and that doesn’t work. Now I am just going to enjoy my game and what happens.
“I was trying to do too much. That’s what I was feeling before, and now I feel more normal, like Eloy.”
Jimenez didn’t do much against the Astros — not that anybody else on the Sox did on a six-hit night against Brad Peacock (5-2) and four relievers. Jimenez went 0-for-4, struck out, didn’t hit a ball out of the infield and mistimed a jump on Michael Brantley’s deep fly that fell next to the Crawford Boxes for a double.
The 22-year-old Jimenez has always oozed confidence, and he talked of doing big things after his long-awaited promotion to the majors. He was bent on proving his worth.
“The first three weeks, I tried to pull everything,” he said. “And when I was off, I had a chance to look at what I was doing, and I made a couple of adjustments. It was just that. I feel good now.”
While testing the ankle and getting his timing back during a fivegame rehab stint at Class AAA Charlotte, Jimenez went 7-for-22 (.318) with a home run. He said he had his timing after one game.
The ankle, he said, was not all the way back but still good enough to play on.
“Much better,” he said. “Pretty good. I can play normal. I’m ready to be back.”
The Sox (21-25) opened a tough seven-game road trip against the Astros (32-16), who won for the 14th time in 16 games, and the division-leading Twins. With Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole pitching Tuesday and Wednesday, it doesn’t get easier. Making matters tougher, with fifth starter Manny Banuelos on the injured list and few viable options available at Charlotte for a needed starting pitcher, the Sox opened the trip with a bullpen day. Relievers Ryan Burr, Jace Fry, Jose Ruiz, Josh Osich and Juan Minaya softened the blow with a collective good effort. Burr gave up an unearned run, Fry a solo homer to Jake Marisnick and Jose Ruiz a solo homer to Tyler White.
“I thought our team did a good job,” said Burr, who went two innings, starting for the first time since he was at Arizona State in 2014. “All of our guys battled, and we held our own.”
Said manager Rick Renteria: “They kept us in the ballgame.”
Renteria said he’ll see how Jimenez feels, but he plans on starting him in left field again.
“Would I use him as a DH to get him off his feet? Possibly,” Renteria said. “To give him a chance to get his legs underneath him. I could start him again and then give him a complete day off. We’ll see how he’s feeling.”