Injured right-hander Mike Vasil has been the White Sox’ most visible, boisterous cheerleader all season.
Before the Sox’ game Friday against the Tigers, his teammates returned the favor.
Vasil has been sidelined since spring training after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in a Cactus League game March 14 and having Tommy John surgery April 2. On Friday, he threw a baseball for the first time since the procedure, making 20 tosses from 45 feet on the left-field grass at Rate Field.
Vasil has been with the Sox all season during his recovery. He became an online sensation for waving a Harry Potter ‘‘wizard wand’’ and donning a pointed wizard hat to help the team celebrate home runs. The Sox even had a wand giveaway night Sept. 4.
On Friday, Sox players cycled the magic and love back to Vasil. They introduced him on a speaker system as ‘‘Windy City Wizard, Mike Vasil’’ as he sprung out of the dugout, then gathered around a jumping, delighted Vasil as he loosened up and threw.
‘‘It felt great,’’ Vasil said. ‘‘Shout-out to Dr. [Keith] Meister. A lot of panic this morning. I was in the shower, and I was slightly concerned about if I remembered how to throw a baseball.’’
The good vibes were more than mechanical.
‘‘Overall, to have the support of my teammates, too, it really made me emotional,’’ Vasil said. ‘‘Just the fact everyone is behind me and supporting me. I wanted to pitch this year, and it didn’t happen. But to see them out there meant a lot.’’
The Sox seemed to be conspiring in the clubhouse before Vasil’s session, but they didn’t tell him any details.
‘‘I didn’t know that was going to happen,’’ Vasil said. ‘‘It was cool to see all of them.’’
This would have been Vasil’s second season in the majors after he went 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 101 innings in a ‘‘Swiss Army knife’’ role with the 102-loss Sox last season. A healthy Vasil figured to fit in with manager Will Venable’s approach of using pitchers in all types of situations.
‘‘It’s one of the more fun roles in baseball, being able to either go three [innings] in the middle of the game, close or start on any given day,’’ Vasil said. ‘‘It was so fun last year doing that.’’
Venable was delighted about Vasil’s milestone day and the players’ response.
‘‘Really proud of ‘Vas’ for getting to point where he’s out here throwing,’’ Venable said. ‘‘It’s really special when you think about what ‘Vas’ has put into this group and, on a daily basis, the energy that he provides our group.
‘‘That can kind of take a lot out of you, and you forget that he’s rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, which is a really tough thing to do.’’
Vasil said he hopes to be throwing rehab assignments by next spring, then be activated in late May. There’s still a lot of work ahead.
He’ll throw again Sunday, then progress slowly to greater distances.
‘‘Then eventually get on the mound, start throwing bullpen [sessions],’’ Vasil said. ‘‘That’s the long progression, live at-bats. I’m going to do everything in my power to be back right on time.
‘‘I want to be better than ever. I know I will be.’’
Colson in lineup vs. Tigers
Shortstop Colson Montgomery was back in the Sox’ lineup Friday, batting eighth against Tigers left-hander Andrew Sears. He responded by hitting a three-run double in the Sox’ five-run first inning.
Montgomery was hit on the left wrist by a pitch from the Guardians’ Parker Messick on Wednesday in Cleveland. He left that game after being unable to swing the bat and sat out the Sox’ 3-1 victory Thursday against the Tigers.
Montgomery entered Friday with three hits in 45 at-bats (54 plate appearances) in his last 14 games, a .067 batting average. Two of the hits were homers and one was a double. He had walked five times and been plunked four times.