KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chicago White Sox saw Eloy Jiménez make some improvements while attempting to return from a left adductor strain, but the designated hitter just didn’t make enough progress.
That ultimately led to the team placing Jiménez on the 10-day injured list Friday. The move is retroactive to Tuesday.
“There comes a point where you have to make a decision, right?” manager Pedro Grifol said before Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. “We tried it for three days, so now we just slow it down and make sure he gets his seven days and get it right. Let’s just get it right so that when he comes back we don’t go through this again.
“We think that slowing this down and taking our time with it, there’s a really good chance it could be gone by next week at this time.”
Jiménez last played Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, when he displayed discomfort running to first after hitting a grounder to third in the sixth inning, eventually exiting the game.
He said he was feeling “way better than Sunday” when speaking to reporters Thursday but admitted frustration with the latest injury, saying, “Things are going to happen. Sometimes I want to go home but I don’t want to give up like that. I’m going to keep working. I’m going to be here for my team.
“Remembering all these years with everything that happened, it’s really frustrating. Especially when you’ve been feeling good and you’ve been preparing yourself good and something happens. But at the end of the day, I’m a warrior. I’m going to keep pushing and I’m going to keep working and I’m going to be there.”
Grifol felt for Jiménez.
“These guys are professional baseball players, they live for this,” Grifol said. “They train for this and they have passion for this game and when they can’t go out and compete it’s somewhat devastating. They put the work in during the offseason and he certainly put the work in the offseason.
“He wants to be out there with us but he’s going to have to get this thing right and find a routine he feels that works for him in that DH role and keeps him on the field.”
Jiménez is 2-for-11 (.182) in three games this season.
“He’s our four-hole hitter,” Grifol said. “He’s got a proven track record, he’s a good hitter, he stretches our lineup out. He protects (No. 3 hitter Luis) Robert (Jr.). There’s a lot to it. Just got to get him ready.”
In Friday’s corresponding moves, the Sox selected the contract of outfielder Robbie Grossman from Triple-A Charlotte and designated pitcher Alex Speas for assignment.
Grossman, 34, is 4-for-10 with two home runs and five RBIs in three games with Charlotte. The switch-hitter originally joined the Sox as a minor-league free agent March 22.
“I know what it takes to get ready myself for a major-league season and I feel like I’m in a good spot right now,” Grossman said of the process after the shorter than usual spring.
He hit .238 with 10 homers and 49 RBIs in 115 games with the Texas Rangers last season.
“I remember back in the day having to game plan against him, and he was a pain in the ass,” Grifol said. “Now he’s on this side, I don’t have to worry about that. I’m happy to have him here. He’s a professional hitter.”
Grossman started in right field Friday.
“If we’re facing a lefty, Grossman will be DHing for right now (and Kevin) Pillar will stay in right field,” Grifol said. “If we face a righty, we’ll see how it goes. I’m going to put our best lineup on the field that helps us win that day. That’s my job and my responsibility and that’s what I’m going to do.
“Whatever we feel is our best lineup that helps us win that night, that’s what we’re going with.”
