Left knee strain lands Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal on the injured list — but there’s no acute ligament damage
Yasmani Grandal singled to left Saturday to begin the seventh inning for the Chicago White Sox against the Cleveland Guardians.
He advanced to second on a wild pitch and attempted to score when Elvis Andrus singled to center, but the Sox catcher was out at the plate. Grandal, after trying to avoid the tag, grabbed his left knee and fell to the ground. He had to be helped off the field.
The Sox will be without the catcher after placing him on the 10-day injured list with a left knee strain, one of three roster moves announced Sunday.
They also selected the contract of catcher Carlos Pérez from Triple-A Charlotte and transferred pitcher Kyle Crick to the 60-day IL. Crick has been on the IL since June 14 with right elbow inflammation.
The moves were announced before Sunday’s game against the Guardians was postponed because of unplayable field conditions at Progressive Field.
An examination of Grandal’s knee revealed no acute damage to the ligaments, tendons or cartilage around the knee, the Sox said. He is dealing with inflammation caused by the hyperextension of the knee and will progress as tolerated, according to the team.
His preliminary projected return is 10 to 14 days, the Sox said.
Grandal has a .203 batting average with five doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 74 games. This is his second time on the IL this season. He was out June 12 to July 22 with lower back spasms.
With Grandal unavailable, Seby Zavala steps into the starting role behind the plate. Zavala is slashing .279/.326/.395 with nine doubles, two homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games.
“When he came up (last) season, you could tell he’s got talent but he was kind of new,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “(The) start of (this) spring training, he was a different guy. The experience really benefited him. He’s gotten hits, he really relates to pitchers, he’s quick with the release.
“He’s got a nice career ahead of him.”
Pérez, 26, is slashing .257/.319/.446 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs and 27 walks in 91 games for the Knights this season.
“I’m so happy,” Pérez said. “Working hard every day trying to get here. I’ll try to do my best here.”
Pérez has a career .269/.317/.383 slash line with 85 doubles, 37 home runs and 239 RBIs in 509 games during eight seasons (2014-19, 2021-22) in the Sox minor-league system. He originally was signed as an international free agent in March 2014.
Pérez said he picked up a lot from previous interactions with Grandal.
“He worked in spring training with me and couple of weeks when he rehabbed in Charlotte,” Pérez said. “Good man, I like him.”
Asked Saturday if he contemplated lifting Grandal for a pinch runner — the Sox were leading by a run at the time — La Russa said: “The way he’s working with (Sox starter Johnny) Cueto, no chance. You can’t do that. Mostly because they’re working well together.”
Cueto led the Sox to a 2-0 win, allowing five hits in 8⅔ innings.
La Russa did not have any issue with third base coach Joe McEwing waving in Grandal.
“I know at least five of us, we all saw Yasmani got a great break (from second),” La Russa said Sunday. “We saw where the ball was hit. We have had trouble getting the run home from third. We all said send him.
“What happened was he looked back. So he lost steps and then he made a turn. I don’t think you can blame Joe.”
According to baseball-reference.com, the Sox are hitting .248 with a runner on third and less than two outs.
During Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Guardians, Josh Harrison reached third with no outs in the fifth and the Sox failed to bring him home.
“If you are having trouble scoring runs, you should lean to more aggressive, not less aggressive — I’m not talking without sense,” La Russa said. “So in that case there, as soon as that ball is hit, (Grandal) is moving. That’s what Joe saw.
“He made the right call. It just turned out with an injury.”
