CLEVELAND — Andrew Benintendi worked his way back from a right hand injury during spring training in time to be with the Chicago White Sox on opening day.
He’s looking to make another quick recovery after being placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left adductor strain. The move is retroactive to Monday.
“I think that in the last few years, it’s been kind of unfortunate with how it’s panned out with some injuries,” Benintendi said Wednesday at Progressive Field. “But I think that it’s better to catch it early.
“And if you can kind of get over it right now, opposed to letting it linger for a few months, making it worse and then missing a lot more time, it’s better to knock it out now and just get it right.”
The left fielder doesn’t think there was one particular play that led to the setback. He last played Sunday, exiting after two at-bats in the series finale against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
As for the recovery process, Benintendi said the plan is “just continue to just give it a little rest and do some exercise to strengthen the stuff around it.”
“Feels better today than it did yesterday,” Benintendi, 30, said. “It’s just one of those things I think it’s going to take a few days, so I think overall this was the right move.”
Benintendi has been one of the top Sox hitters this young season. He’s slashing .290/.333/.484 with two home runs and six RBIs in nine games. Entering Wednesday, he led the club in several offensive categories, including hits (nine) and runs (five).
“He’s a big part of our offense,” manager Will Venable said. “He’s right there in the heart of our order every day. Quality hitter. He’s a guy that I think everyone looks to and has that kind of stability and presence in our lineup that we’re definitely going to miss.”
Benintendi said he has felt “pretty good” at the plate.
“It’s definitely frustrating (missing time),” Benintendi said. “Usually I’m a slow starter and to kind of get off to a pretty good start, it’s kind of frustrating (being out).”
Benintendi expressed optimism that he’d be back sooner rather than later.
“To be honest, I probably think I could have played in a few days, but I think with just where we’re at right now early in the season just kind of give it time to get back,” Benintendi said.
Added Venable: “We’re going to take our time, make sure we rehab him the right way. We also feel confident that this isn’t going to be one of these things that’s lingering. That he is continuing to feel better. When his 10 days are up, he should be pretty close to being ready to join us.”
In the meanwhile the Sox have Michael A. Taylor, Austin Slater and Brooks Baldwin among their left-field options.
“We feel like we have good coverage,” Venable said. “We like all those guys out there, we’ll see different guys out there.
“But the guys are capable and that’s part of the reason why we’re comfortable just making sure Benintendi is healthy and put him on the IL knowing we have some coverage here to make sure that we get the job done.”
Taylor started in left Wednesday in Game 2 of the series against the Guardians. Baldwin was in that spot Tuesday in the Sox’s 1-0 loss.
“You can’t deviate from your routine,” Baldwin said of filling in. “You can’t change just because you lose one player. We’ll have somebody else step up and play a big role for us.”
In Wednesday’s corresponding move, the Sox called up outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Charlotte.
The Sox claimed Jones, 27, off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on March 26. He is 4-for-31 (.129) with one double, one home run, five RBIs and four stolen bases in nine games with the Knights. He has played left field, center and second base this season.
Jones made his major-league debut last season, going 1-for-5 (.200) with one home run and one RBI in six games with the Rockies.
“A lot of tools and a lot of power, speed is going to be his thing,” Venable said of Jones, a 2019 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays. “I think you’ll see him in a variety of roles. Really excited to see what he can do for us.”
Another outfield option down the line could be Travis Jankowski, who came to terms on a minor-league deal Wednesday. Jankowski went 3-for-14 (.214) with one run scored in seven games with the Sox before being designated for assignment Sunday.
“Excited about that,” Venable said. “He’s a real pro. For him to be in the organization we know that we’ll likely lean on him at some point up here this summer.
“To have him be around our guys there in Triple A and to contribute to that environment means a lot.”
