Prior to tonight’s game vs. Detroit, the Chicago White Sox announced the following four roster moves:
- Placed OF Luis Robert on the 10-day injured list with sprained left wrist;
- Reinstated RHP Joe Kelly from the Family Medical Leave List;
- Recalled OF Mark Payton from Class AAA Charlotte;
- Optioned LHP Tanner Banks to Charlotte.
Robert is hitting .284 (108-for-380) with 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 56 RBI, and 54 runs scored in just 98 games with Chicago in 2022. The team’s recent handling of his wrist injury has been nothing short of questionable, to say the least. But then again, the same can be said for just about every other situation the organization faces.
The centerfielder’s move to the injured list signals the end of his injury-riddled season and the organization’s realization that a postseason berth is out of the equation. Robert has made three separate trips to the injured list in 2022, hence the limited number of appearances. With his latest issue plaguing him since mid-August, Robert ended up playing in just six games in September. Now, he’ll finally have the opportunity to heal up for the remainder of the season.
Payton is hitting .293/.369/.908 (138-for-471) with 31 doubles, five triples, 25 home runs, 95 RBI, 85 runs scored, 54 walks and a .908 OPS in 119 games with Charlotte this season. He leads the Knights in numerous offensive categories and ranks among the International League leaders in RBI (1st), total bases (1st, 254), average (2nd), extra-base hits (2nd, 61), runs scored (3rd), doubles (3rd), OPS (3rd), hits (5th), home runs (6th), slugging percentage (7th) and on-base percentage (10th).
Payton appeared in one game with the Sox during his first stint, scoring a run on September 3 vs. Minnesota. He is pencilled in as the starting left fielder for tonight’s game.
Kelly, who was placed on the list on September 18, is 1-3 with a 6.42 ERA (24 ER/33.2 IP), 14 holds, and 46 strikeouts over 39 games (one start) this season, his first with the White Sox. He has made five straight scoreless outings, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts in 4.2 IP before his recent absence.
Banks has gone 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA (18 ER/53.0 IP) and 49 strikeouts over 35 relief appearances with the White Sox this season.
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