MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Catcher Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday by the Chicago White Sox with a torn tendon in his left knee.
Grandal was injured during an at-bat in Monday’s loss in Minnesota. Chicago estimated Grandal will be out approximately four to six weeks.
“It was a twist that he made as he made his swing,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Something got caught. It didn’t free up to make a turn on it. It got caught and something popped. I’m anxious to get a full diagnosis. He’s on his way to Chicago, maybe in Chicago already, and we’ll know more tomorrow.”
Grandal was hitting just .188 as Chicago’s starting catcher, but he had a .388 on-base percentage in 63 games to go with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs.
Seby Zavala, 27, was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and was with the team for Tuesday’s game in Minnesota. Zack Collins started Tuesday at catcher.
“He was as productive as any position player we have for the last month or so,” La Russa said of Grandal. “We saw Seby in spring training. I saw him for the first time. He’s well known. He’ll do a good job.”
Zavala was hitting .178 with five homers and 15 RBIs for Charlotte. He played in five games with the White Sox in 2019 and was 1 for 12.
Grandal’s absence adds to Chicago’s injury woes. Second baseman Nick Madrigal is out for the season after hamstring surgery. Left fielder Eloy Jiménez has missed the entire season with a torn left pectoral tendon and center fielder Luis Robert played 25 games before a right hip flexor strain sent him to the injured list.
Relievers Aaron Bummer, Evan Marshall and Jimmy Cordero, outfielder Adam Engel and infielder Jake Lamb are also on the injured list.
Jiménez and Robert have begun baseball-related activity. La Russa said Engel could return on Tuesday.
“It’s only as difficult as you allow it to be,” La Russa said on the string of injuries. “We control our minds and our hearts. If we want to act frustrated and discouraged, like we’ve been unlucky, then we’re going to lose an edge. If we remind ourselves, you look around and Minnesota doesn’t have (Byron) Buxton. Everybody’s getting hurt. It’s how you handle it.”
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