Yoan Moncada is coming back.
Out since April 9 with a left adductor strain, Moncada was in the White Sox’ locker room after Sunday’s win and traveled with the team to Anaheim, California. He is expected to be activated Monday and be part of the Sox for the final 12 games.
“I just enjoy playing with him,” Gavin Sheets said. “I know it’s been a frustrating year for him with injuries, but I know it’s exciting for him to be back.”
Sunday was Moncada’s 20th day of his minor-league rehab assignment. MLB rules limit players to 20-day rehab stints, so the Sox and the former top prospect were at a crossroads about whether he would return in 2024.
His return for 2025 is much more doubtful.
Moncada and Michael Kopech came to the Sox from Boston in the 2016 trade that shipped out Chris Sale. Eight years later, the Sox are in another rebuild, hold a $25 million option on Moncada with a $5 million buyout and have other younger options, including Miguel Vargas and Bryan Ramos, at third base.
Benintendi’s surge
Signed to a five-year, $75 million pact before the 2023 season that still stands as the richest contract in team history, Andrew Benintendi has struggled to live up to that deal as the Sox have plummeted to the bottom of the sport.
Recently, Benintendi has shown signs of improvement. Entering Sunday’s game against the Athletics, Benintendi was slashing .284/.358/.552 since July 31, capped by his walk-off home run Saturday.
“It’s really good to see just how he’s handled everything,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “There’s always a lot of pressure when you’re signed to a big deal and the center of a franchise and when you get off to a slow start or you have a frustrating year, it can be a lot. It can be taxing physically, mentally. But to see him hit his best stretch here at the end, it’s got to feel good for him.”
So long, Oakland
Sunday was likely the Sox’ final game against the Oakland version of the Athletics, who are expected to shift to Sacramento, California, for the next three seasons before a planned move to Las Vegas.
Sox pitcher Chris Flexen grew up in Newark, California, an East Bay city in Alameda County about 20 miles from the Oakland Coliseum. Though Flexen was more of a Giants supporter, he has good memories of the Athletics and their fans, including when he and a high school friend went out to a game early and caught at least 15 balls during batting practice.
“It’s a bummer on both ends,” Flexen said. “It’s a bummer to sometimes go and see it not be able to get packed or have 20, 30,000 there. I know they did at times and there’s other stuff going on. It’ll be interesting to see them leave Oakland.”
Crochet update
Garrett Crochet is expected to start Friday in San Diego, giving him six days of rest following his appearance last Friday. Crochet has started 30 games and thrown 138 innings this season.