Hays exits with right hamstring strain, will be placed on IL
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CHICAGO -- White Sox outfielder Austin Hays will miss time with a right hamstring strain after he exited Monday’s 2-1 loss against the Orioles at Rate Field in the fourth inning after pulling up with a limp while chasing a fly ball that landed near the left-field line.
It appeared Hays had a good chance to catch Tyler O’Neill’s eventual RBI single, but the left fielder slowed down and began hopping on his left foot in obvious pain before the ball could land. Hays walked slowly off the field without bending his right knee with the help of a trainer.
“It’s a hamstring strain, he will go on the IL,” manager Will Venable said postgame. “Going to do some imaging on it tomorrow to see where we’re at. Have a little bit better of an idea of the timeline [then]. I have no further update beyond that.
“ … We’ll get the group together after this and see what our options are and make a decision on the roster move.”
Hays was able to grab the ball and toss it to third baseman Miguel Vargas, but a run scored on the play as Adley Rutschman went first to home.
Derek Hill, who signed with the White Sox in November, replaced Hays in left field for the remainder of the game, finishing with a stolen base and two walks.
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Hays was a big offseason addition for the White Sox, providing power to the middle of the lineup with a homer and six RBIs entering Monday’s series opener. He’s also given Chicago a strong defensive option in left, with Andrew Benintendi moving to more of a designated hitter role to begin the season. It is expected that Benintendi will now play left almost every day, with a rotation at designated hitter.
“[Hays is] a guy who’s been a performer in this league,” Venable said. “He understands the nuance of being a Major League player, both on and off the field. What it means to prepare. What it means to go out there and compete. He’s a guy that our younger players look to as a veteran, in the clubhouse and on the field. It’s a tough one for the group, a tough one for Hays-y. Put so much work into this. It’s a real bummer.”