There is perhaps no franchise that is currently inspiring less hope than the Chicago White Sox. They are 17-52 and already 27 and a half games out of first place in the American League Central. The MLB's clear-cut worst team appropriately ranks last in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS, is 29th in ERA and home runs allowed and has an eye-gouging -150 run differential.
Worst of all, though, Chicago has not even hit rock bottom yet. The Sox's full rebuild will not officially begin until they deal away 2023 All-Star Luis Robert Jr., AL strikeouts leader Garrett Crochet and a few other players ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Eloy Jimenez could find himself in that group of inevitable departures if he can manage to stay off the injured list for an extended period of time.
Based on the latest news, the designated hitter and outfielder appears to finally be making his way back to the White Sox. He is beginning a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League, according to the team's official X account.
Jimenez, who missed a couple weeks in April with an abductor strain, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since May 21. He expressed frustration over suffering a recovery setback at the end of last month, so the 2020 Silver Slugger is surely elated to be back in action and nearing his way towards a big leagues return.
Considering Chicago's 2024 season has been over from the onset, a savior is not going to walk into the batter's box and propel the franchise into relevance. However, a healthy Eloy Jimenez can at least give the diehard fans a reason to invest in games.
Eloy Jimenez, White Sox desperate for some good news
Despite the present pain, and the future misery to come, the White Sox are starting to show some fight. Admittedly, that sounds like an absurd statement to make about a ballclub that has lost 22 of its last 25 games, but excluding a 14-2 drubbing by the Boston Red Sox, its last six defeats have either come by one run, in extra innings or via a walk-off home run.
While there is no visible bright side amongst the somber skies surrounding Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago is at least giving away wins rather than being eviscerated night after night. Perhaps Jimenez can help turn some of those Ls into Ws when he rejoins the squad.
The injury-plagued 27-year-old is consistently a candidate to ascend to the next tier of talent but is never healthy enough to solidify himself as an upper echelon hitter. He has flashed his share of promise, though. Eloy Jimenez blasted 16 homers in just 84 games played in 2022 while also batting .295. He posted worthy production again last year before scuffling in the early portion of the 2024 campaign.
The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native is hitting .231 with five home runs, 12 RBIs, a 90 OPS+ (league average is 100) and three stolen bases in 36 games this season. Jimenez has an abundance of offensive potential, but with a $16.5 million club option looming, the organization may just want to cut ties.
Ideally, this slugger smashes MLB pitching in the next month-plus and makes himself a viable trade candidate. He can land on a possible playoff club, and the White Sox could acquire assets that better fit their long-term timetable. It might be a best-case scenario for both sides, and the path to arriving there starts in the Arizona Complex League.
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