Liam Hendriks took another step toward returning to the Chicago White Sox with his third live batting practice in a week.
The Sox closer threw about 19 pitches while facing teammates Elvis Andrus, Adam Haseley and Seby Zavala before Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
“It went well,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “His numbers were really good.”
Hendriks built on previous sessions May 19 at Guaranteed Rate Field and Monday in Cleveland. He’s working his way back after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
“He ticked up from Cleveland,” Grifol said. “Really good step in the right direction. We’ll sit down and evaluate it as an organization and see what our next step is.”
The Sox also are getting positive reports from Eloy Jiménez’s rehab stint with Double-A Birmingham. The outfielder/designated hitter went 0-for-5 with a walk in his first two games for the Barons against the Tennessee Smokies.
“I don’t really care too much about what he’s doing offensively,” Grifol said. “All I care about is when he got through the game, how did he feel. He felt great and that’s all that matters to me.
“As long as he’s seeing pitches, going through the things he needs to go through, if he’s healthy at the end of the day, it’s a good day for Eloy.”
Jiménez — on the injured list after undergoing an appendectomy May 6 — was pinch-hit for in the ninth inning Thursday. Grifol said that was part of the schedule.
“He was going to play seven innings and that was it,” Grifol said.
Grifol said “there’s a possibility” Jiménez will be back with the Sox when they begin a six-game homestand Monday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Here are a couple other notes from Comerica Park.
Jimmy Lambert has ‘pretty cool’ experience
The Sox were holding off until after Friday’s game to determine Saturday’s starting pitcher. They will be filling Mike Clevinger’s spot for the second time while the right-hander is on the IL with right wrist inflammation.
Reliever Jimmy Lambert served as the opener Monday against the Guardians. He pitched a scoreless inning before giving way to Jesse Scholtens, who allowed one run on two hits in five solid innings.
Lambert returned to the mound for Wednesday’s series finale in Cleveland, pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts. He said he didn’t realize at the time he had thrown his team’s first and last pitches of the series.
“As far as opening the game, I used to be a starter and I love starting. That was fun to do that again,” Lambert told the Tribune on Thursday. “I knew I was only going to go one inning, but the leadup and throwing the first inning was cool.
“(And) we had a good lead (6-0) on Wednesday and they called me. I didn’t even think about it. I saw some people say I threw the first and last innings of the series. I guess that’s pretty cool.”
Lambert, who made two starts last season, said he went through a normal starter’s preparation …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
