The White Sox expect to have a full (strength) Mune on Friday.
“We anticipate activating Mune tomorrow,” White Sox manager Will Venable said Thursday. “He’ll be in the lineup tomorrow night.”
Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox’ slugging first baseman, played in rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday at Triple-A Charlotte to complete his recovery from a hamstring injury. Those were enough for the White Sox to bring him back and help an offense in distress. The Red Sox held it to two runs in a three-game sweep, capped by a 2-1 decision.
“He feels good. He’s ready to go,” Venable said. “He was challenged running the bases. Defensively, had a really long game yesterday of nine innings. So [we] feel good about the work; he recovered well today. So he’s ready to go.”
Murakami, who still ranks second on the team with 20 home runs, went 2-for-7 with an RBI double, a walk and two strikeouts at Charlotte. He played five innings at first base Tuesday and nine innings Wednesday. The Sox might give Murakami some time at designated hitter as he returns to game-playing shape.
“There’ll be a lot of communication on where he’s at,” Venable said. “This ramp-up and this rehab was obviously very quick. So we want to be mindful of where he’s at day to day.”
The Sox not only expect Murakami to revive the offense. They’re expecting him to raise their spirits as they sputter to the All-Star break.
“Obviously, he’s a presence in the lineup,” designated hitter Andrew Benintendi said. “He’ll bring energy. Seems like the vibe in here is kind of down right now. But I’m sure seeing him will spark it back up.”
“It’s going to be a great jolt,” Venable said. “That’s real. We understand the impact that he makes on the field and in the clubhouse. Really excited about it.”
One person won’t be so excited about it — whoever the White Sox send down to make room for Murakami. That will be announced Friday.
Jacob Gonzalez might be that person. He has been playing first base since being called up May 30, one day after Murakami strained his right hamstring running to first base. Though his hitting probably leaves the White Sox wanting — especially after he bludgeoned Triple-A pitching for 19 homers in 52 games — Gonzalez has proved to be a capable first baseman, despite not having played the position before.
“Obviously, I hope I can stay,” Gonzalez told the Sun-Times. “But if it’s not the move and I’m the one going down, that’s just how it’s going to be. The only ‘convincing’ I can do is keep playing well, and hopefully that keeps me here. Even then, it still might not.”
Gonzalez didn’t have much of a chance to do any more “convincing” this week. With the Red Sox starting three left-handers, the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez had only three at-bats as a sub and struck out twice.
“I feel good. Obviously, it can always get better in all regards, defense and hitting,” he said. “Hitting-wise, finding the tweaks to help me adjust up here. And then at first base, it really is just playing over there. The only way I can get better is by playing over there.”
After some mental mistakes early, Gonzalez is coming along well, thanks to help from third-base and infield coach Justin Jirschele. They’ve watched video of Gonzalez’s defense, correcting such nuances as his routes to cover first base, as well as his scoops and stretches.
Given that Gonzalez is more experienced everywhere else on the infield and Venable exploits players’ versatility nearly every game, perhaps Gonzalez will stay and outfielder Junior Perez will be demoted. But finding Gonzalez playing time might be too difficult.
“We all know I can play all the positions,” he said. “Obviously, I came up here to fill the first-baseman role while he was hurt. I think it was good I showed that I can play there.”
