Tim Anderson to IL; Romy González Ascends to Majors

In what now confirmed as an extraordinary rise to the majors, the White Sox promoted IF-OF Romy González in a flurry of six roster moves as rosters expand from 26 to 28 until season’s end.

The most immediate effect of the moves is the loss of Tim Anderson, who was placed on the 10-day IL with another hamstring issue. Hamstrings have plagued the White Sox overall this season, and TA in particular cannot shake the injury bug; over the past three seasons representing his ascendance into stardom, it’s come at the cost of him missing significant time. Presuming he gets another 15 regular season games in this year, he’ll have played 75% of the schedule in his past two full seasons, 80% of last year’s truncated schedule.

Taking his place on the roster, as such, is the remarkable, ascendant star Romy González, who began 2021 (in May, remember) in Birmingham after sitting out all of 2020 due to the pandemic and (presumably) seeing no time at the Schaumburg alternate site. He took over shortstop as his new primary position in 2021 after spending the majority of his time in left field at Kannapolis in 2019 (and it’s not like he was drafted as a shortstop, either, as in 2018 he was exclusively a center fielder for Great Falls in his 2018 draft year). That is a factoid that is ignored even in the White Sox’s own press release below.

On the offensive side, González was the first 20-20 player for Birmingham since Aaron Rowand in 2001 — and he accomplished that in just 78 games. We could hardly get our feature touting him in Birmingham out before he exploded on the scene for Charlotte just two weeks ago, hitting two homers, including a walk-off blast, in his first Triple-A game.

A second switch-out it a swap of lefties, Gavin Sheets up from Charlotte for Jake Lamb, who was designated for assignment. Obviously this is a future play, but it came at a cost. When Lamb was activated back to the White Sox roster last month after injury, the team designated its best majors-ready outfielder for assignment, Luis González. González was snatched up by San Francisco after nearly clearing waivers, and while the loss might not do long-term harm to the White Sox, an ascendant player was sacrificed for 12 games and 28 plate appearances of .179/.281/.286 hitting from Lamb before he, now, is summarily released.

The two outright additions for the White Sox are Matt Foster, who returns to a White Sox club he broke camp with; and Billy Hamiliton, completing his rehab assignment in Charlotte.

Other arms, like Jace Fry or Evan Marshall, remain in Charlotte as possible September calls-up for injury (it seems probable that Lucas Giolito will get a 10-day stint due to his hamstring injury), while bats like Zack Collins’ or Jake Burger also remain with the Knights.

Here is today’s full, copyedited press release on their moves:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 1, 2021

WHITE SOX MAKE SIX ROSTER MOVES

CHICAGO - Prior to tonight’s series finale vs. Pittsburgh, the Chicago White Sox made the following six roster moves:

· Placed All-Star SS Tim Anderson on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to August 29) with a left hamstring strain;

· Recalled RHP Matt Foster from Class AAA Charlotte;

· Returned OF Billy Hamilton from his injury rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Charlotte and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list;

· Designated INF/OF Jake Lamb for assignment;

· Selected the contract of INF Romy González from Charlotte;

· Recalled INF/OF Gavin Sheets from Charlotte

Anderson, 28, is batting .302/.331/.458 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 53 RBIs, 82 runs and 17 stolen bases over 108 games this season. He ranks fifth in the American League in average, tied for fifth in multi-hit games and tied for ninth in runs.

Foster, 26, has gone 2-1 with a 5.67 ERA, one save, two holds and 36 strikeouts in 31 relief appearances over four stints with the Sox in 2021.

Hamilton, 30, was placed on the injured list on August 1 (retroactive to July 31) with a right oblique strain. He is hitting .226 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 11 RBIs, eight stolen bases and 19 runs in 57 games this season, his first with the White Sox.

Lamb, 30, batted .212/.321/.389 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 20 runs over 43 games this season, his first with the Sox after signing as a free agent on March 30.

González, 24, is hitting .275/.357/.525 with 15 doubles, 23 home runs, 57 RBIs, 58 runs and 22 stolen bases over 87 combined games with Double-A Birmingham (78) and Triple-A Charlotte (nine) this season. He is one of seven players in the minor leagues with 20 homers and 20 steals.

González, 6´1´´ and 215 pounds, was selected by the Sox in the 18th round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Miami. He has no major-league experience. González will wear uniform No. 5.

Sheets, 25, is hitting .295/.362/.507 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 36 runs over 60 games with Charlotte this season. He also batted .225/.293/.483 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and 10 runs in 29 games over his first stint with the White Sox from June 29-August 8.

Following the moves, the White Sox active roster increases to 28, and 40-man roster remains at 40.