White Sox Veteran Begins Rehab Assignment After Long-Term Injury

An underrated need for the Chicago White Sox as they push toward the MLB trade deadline will be an additional right-handed bat.

Chicago's lineup could use a little more balance against left-handed pitching. The outfield, in particular, is a spot where the White Sox could improve.

As of now, Junior Perez receives consistent playing time against lefties despite being 1-for-16 with six strikeouts since the beginning of July.

But as much as the White Sox may be tempted to address this need at the deadline, an internal option returning from injury could provide a much more immediate and affordable solution to the problem.

Veteran outfielder Austin Hays was a significant addition by the White Sox in the offseason because of what he brought against left-handed pitching alone. Hays was coming off a season in which he hit 15 home runs with a .768 OPS for the Cincinnati Reds, but he was looking to prove that he could be an everyday player on a contending team. Chicago gave him that opportunity.

While we've already seen flashes of what Hays can bring to the White Sox offense, keeping him on the field has proved difficult. He's played in just 12 games this season and has spent two separate stints on the injured list. He last appeared for the White Sox on May 1.

In April, Hays missed time with a right hamstring strain. He quickly returned, only to go down with a left calf strain a week later. He hasn't appeared for the White Sox since.

On June 9, Hays was transferred to the 60-day injured list. But fresh off the All-Star break, he has now begun a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte and has a chance to rejoin the White Sox in due time.

Hays was in the lineup for the Knights on Friday night as they began a series in Durham. He played left field and went 0-for-3. But for White Sox fans, it's less about the result right now and more about how encouraging it is to have Hays back on the field.

Even if his rehab assignment is a bit prolonged, a return to the White Sox roster at any point over the next two weeks would represent a significant upgrade over Perez. It would also give the White Sox an internal trade deadline addition that makes them a deeper and better team.

The White Sox have done a good job of treading water and remaining atop the AL Central while dealing with their fair share of injuries. But now it's all hands on deck as they push for the playoffs and look to make some noise in the postseason.