Eloy Jimenez reinstated from injured list; Oscar Colas optioned to Charlotte

DETROIT — Eloy Jimenez returned to the White Sox lineup Sunday, coming off the injured list for a hamstring strain after missing a month of action.

Jimenez is in the lineup batting third as the designated hitter for the Sox' series finale against the Tigers Sunday afternoon.

Outfielder Oscar Colas was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for Jimenez, 27, who suffered the injury May 21 at Toronto. Jimenez is hitting .231/.288/.381 with five doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI over 26 games. He had reached base safely in eight straight games when he went down with the latest injury of his injury-riddled six-year career.

“He's been moving around pretty good," manager Pedro Grifol said of Jimenez, who was 8-for-18 with a double and homer in six games with the ACL White Sox during his rehab assignment. "He's ready, and we're welcoming him back with open arms."

“Good to be back with the guys," Jimenez said. "This season is not what wanted but we’re a major league club and we need to compete.”

Of his injury history, Jimenez said his injury history is "in the past already. We're here and we're just going to keep going."

Colas just needs to play

Colás, 25, has batted .273/.368/.273 with no homers and four RBI in 13 games over two stints with the Sox in 2024. Grifol said Colas' improvements at the plate, in particular with two-strike approach, and the outfield were noted.

When Colas has been optioned in the past, he was given a laundry list of things to work on. This time, Grifol's message was "go down there and continue what you're doing and your time will come."

Which could come if and when veteran Tommy Pham is traded before the July 30 trade deadline.

Colas said the ball slipped out of his hand when he missed a cutoff man Friday, but he "did good up here," Grifol said. "He made a lot of improvements. He just ran into a numbers game as far as playing. There’s no reason to keep him here if he’s not playing."

Grifol said he told Colas, "go down there, keep doing what you're doing, perform and get ready."

Rest for Robert

Luis Robert Jr. has a scheduled day off as the Sox manage his workload in the wake of his return from the IL with a hip flexor strain.

"He's got like a seven [games] in a row now before having an off day, with a DH in there somewhere," Grifol said.

Moncada looking "great"

Grifol said he saw video Friday of third baseman Yoan Moncada running and “he looks great,” he said. “Running really good, running the bases really good.”

“He’s doing everything except playing right now. He’s going to start playing hopefully by the middle or end of this week.”

Grifol said Moncada probably won’t return to Sox, though, until after the All-Star break, which is July 15-18.