KANSAS CITY -- For the second time this season, Andrew Benintendi is on the injured list.
The White Sox placed the 30-year-old outfielder on the 10-day IL with a left calf strain prior to Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Royals after Benintendi felt soreness in the area while running to first base on Sunday against the Astros. He was eventually lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.
Manager Will Venable said on Monday and Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium that the club was hoping Benintendi would be able to pinch-hit at some point against the Royals, but on Wednesday it became clear that he would need extra time to heal.
“He got it scanned today, and he’s got a little calf strain,” Venable said. “So [we] just want to do the right thing and give him some time to recover here and not do more damage. Not expecting it to be deep into the summer that we get him back, but we have to give him a week or so here and reevaluate where he’s at [then].”
Benintendi was also placed on the IL on April 9 with a left adductor strain before returning on April 17. Since signing a club-record five-year, $75 million deal ahead of the 2023 season, Benintendi is slashing .245/.308/.376 with the White Sox. He tied a career high with 20 homers in ‘23 and has a .698 OPS in 24 games so far this season.
In a corresponding move, Chicago selected the contract of Nick Maton from Triple-A Charlotte. Maton, who has spent parts of five Major League seasons with the Phillies, Tigers, Orioles and White Sox, has played 23 games with the South Siders this season. He hit two homers, drove in four runs and walked nine times in his first stint with the big league club this year.
“Just love the aggressiveness [from Maton] at the plate,” Venable said. “Always ready to do damage. Kind of a guy almost like a fast-break offense, you know? He can hit the ball out of the park, he’s going to put a good swing on it, put a good at-bat together. Excited to have him back.
“And the other thing I have to say is that he’s awesome in the clubhouse. We love him in the clubhouse. That was a part of it, too.”
Maton was designated for assignment on April 26 by the White Sox, but he cleared waivers and has since split time with Charlotte and Chicago. The 28-year-old will spend most of his time at first base or as the designated hitter, but he has logged a few innings in the outfield.
The White Sox will instead rely heavily on Michael A. Taylor, a 2021 Gold Glove winner, and utility man Brooks Baldwin, who threw out Vinnie Pasquantino from left field attempting to stretch a single into a double on Tuesday, to fill in for Benintendi in the outfield. Tim Elko has been mashing in the Minor Leagues, but his big league debut will have to wait.
“You just really like when Michael A. Taylor is in the outfield,” Venable said. “I think part of backfilling Benny will be exposing Michael to the outfield more, getting him more at-bats and getting him in the lineup more. Also really happy where Baldwin is at and his contributions, so between those two guys and then [Richie] Palacios and [Luis Robert Jr.], we feel really good about where we are at in the outfield.”