The Chicago White Sox are off to a rough start this spring, and it might be an early sign of what’s to come in the regular season.
The White Sox are likely to be near the bottom of the league once again, competing with teams like the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies for one of the worst records in Major League Baseball.
To make matters worse, a few of their players have sustained injuries this spring, which could have long-term effects on their performance throughout the season.
Another blow to the Chicago White Sox
The White Sox received another blow on the injury front with the news that outfielder has an oblique strain, which Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
“LF Austin Slater scratched with a left oblique strain.”
Slater’s injury follows closely behind Andrew Benintendi, who will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks with a broken hand. The 32-year-old Slater, who signed a one-year deal with the White Sox this offseason, was expected to be a key bench contributor.
Last season, Slater had the worst performance of his career, posting career lows across all major categories. In 84 games with three different teams, he slashed .209/.321/.266, finishing with an OPS of .586 and an OPS+ of 73.
Opportunities for others
The injuries to Benintendi and Slater open up opportunities for players like Joey Gallo, Oscar Colás, and Brandon Drury to earn spots on the White Sox’s major league roster.
Oblique strains have been a common issue around baseball recently, and the White Sox now appear to be the latest team affected by the injury.
We’ll have to wait for further updates to determine how long Slater will be out, but hopefully, his absence won’t last for too long.
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