Rookie INF Meidroth (right thumb contusion) sent to IL by White Sox

SEATTLE -- On Wednesday, White Sox manager Will Venable said that there was an “expiration date” for how long the club felt it could carry Chase Meidroth if the rookie infielder wouldn’t be available while dealing with a right thumb contusion.

Thursday turned out to be that day, with the White Sox putting Meidroth on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 4).

“Obviously I want to play,” Meidroth said ahead of Chicago’s series finale against the Mariners. “It’s frustrating as heck. Trying to push through it, but it was not going as fast as I wanted it to. … We’ll take it day-by-day and give it a go again next week.”

Meidroth was hit by a Taijuan Walker sinker in the fifth inning of the White Sox game against the Phillies on July 30, and had not returned to the starting lineup since. His only game action in the week since came last Sunday in Anaheim, when he came in as a defensive substitution in the ninth inning.

The club originally wanted to see if he could avoid the IL and recover within a shorter amount of time -- especially because he was still able to play in the field -- but the return to full-strength has taken longer than anticipated. Meidroth hit on the field before Tuesday’s series-opener in Seattle, but as of Thursday said he was still struggling to grip a bat.

“Just kind of stalled out over the last couple of days,” Venable said. “Just thought it was in his best interest, and our best interest, to give him a rest and get that thing healed up before we ask him to get back out there.”

Now, Meidroth is set to be shut down from swinging for the next couple of days to let the thumb heal up. He’s still going through defensive drills pregame.

Hitting coach Marcus Thames said that when the White Sox return to Chicago to open their three-game set against the Guardians this weekend, he’ll spend time working with the team’s Trajekt machine, just watching pitches come in to keep his timing.

Venable said that barring any setbacks, Meidroth should be available to be activated as soon as he’s eligible, which would see him miss the upcoming homestand but return in time for Chicago’s road series in Kansas City next weekend.

“It’s going to be sore for a little bit, and [we] just want to minimize the impact here, so [we’ll] give him a little more time,” Venable said.

Meidroth, who was part of the prospect haul the White Sox received in return for Garrett Crochet, ended the year as the organization’s No. 8 prospect and earned his call-up on April 11. In 33 games before the end of May, he slashed .274/.357/.331 with eight stolen bases.

He’s been a core part of the South Siders’ youth movement, teaming up with Colson Montgomery after the latter was recalled on July 4 for an all-rookie middle infield. On July 21, he went 4-for-5 with three doubles against the Rays; that kicked off a four-game stretch that saw Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero also record four-hit games, making them the first White Sox rookie trio to do so in such a span since 1999.

At the plate, the 24-year-old Meidroth has logged a 40.5% squared-up percentage -- tied with San Diego’s Luis Arraez for the best in baseball – while posting a 13.1% whiff rate that places him in the 95th percentile of all hitters. In the field, he’s been good for a Fielding Run Value of 3 -- second-best among qualified White Sox fielders -- and 4 Outs Above Average.

In two corresponding moves, the White Sox selected the contract of infielder Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Charlotte and designated right-hander Gus Varland for assignment. Amaya has hit .291/.402/.464 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games for Charlotte. He hit .097 (6-for-62) in 34 games for the White Sox earlier this season. Varland, who pitched in 19 games for the White Sox in 2024 with a 3.54 ERA, has been limited by injuries to a 5.06 ERA in seven games for Charlotte this season.