CHICAGO – Outfielder Derek Hill moved from one potential American League playoff contender to a potential National League playoff contender, when the White Sox sent the veteran outfielder to the Phillies prior to Thursday’s series finale with the Braves at Rate Field.
In the deal, the White Sox acquired Minor League outfielder Dylan Campbell and Minor League infielder José Colmenares in exchange for Hill and $250,00 in International Pool money.
Hill, 30, was out of options, and the White Sox made the move with outfielder Everson Pereira returning from his injury rehab assignment for Triple-A Charlotte and being reinstated from the 10-day injured list. The move of Hill was made with sadness for his departure, but also appreciation for what he contributed to this American League Central-leading team.
“I have thanked him and want to thank him publicly for his contributions here, because he was such a great player for us, a great person in the clubhouse. Made an impact on the field,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of Hill. “Really just a situation where we were in a little bit of a roster crunch there.
“It speaks to D. Hill and his performance and who he is that there was a lot of interest in him, and it also speaks to where our club is at that we are able to, or really needed to push a really good player off our roster. So, one of those things you don’t love because you feel so strongly about the player, but it’s a necessary thing to do.”
Pereira, 25, was placed on the injured list on April 29 with a right pectoral strain suffered on April 28 vs. the Angels. He is slashing .250/.310/.453 with four doubles, three homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored in 18 games this season, his first with the White Sox.
The White Sox had the right-handed hitter fifth in the lineup and in center field against Atlanta’s Martin Perez, a member of the 2025 White Sox and a leader on that team. But Venable now faces a good sort of outfield conundrum, with switch-hitter Braden Montgomery, Pereira, left-handed-hitting Sam Antonacci, right-handed-hitting Randal Grichuk and left-handed-hitting Tristan Peters in the mix.
For a team winning so many moments on the margin and working so much through matchups, the talent depth is important.
“So, he will be starting against left-handed pitching and then against righties, it’s a crowded outfield,” said Venable of Pereira. “Tristan has put himself in a position to be out there in center field and against right-handed pitching. Sam, the same thing in left, and then Braden will get an opportunity in right.
“As we need days for guys, you’ll see Pereira get some right-handed pitching but we’ll mix and match and kind of see what it looks like. But probably not out there against righties every day.”
After Pereira’s second rehab game with Charlotte, he felt back to 100 percent. He’s now ready to help the White Sox continue their winning push.
“I'm just excited for them. I've been rooting for them,” said Pereira through interpreter Billy Russo. “I'm not that kind of person who won't be rooting for my teammates because I'm not playing.
“That's not who I am. I'm rooting for them and I enjoy the way that they've been playing. Now I feel like I'm going to be part of that, too."
Campbell, 23, will be assigned to Double-A Birmingham. Colmenares, 24, has been on the injured list since May 25 with an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his right thumb, and will be assigned to the Arizona Complex League White Sox to continue his rehab.
This move put the White Sox 40-man roster at 39, with Hill, who had four homers, eight RBIs and seven stolen bases in 50 games, now getting a change in Philadelphia.
“Every conversation you have with Derek Hill is very positive,” Venable said. “He has a positive response to everything, just like he did with this. He was appreciative of the opportunity. I’m sure he’s also excited about the opportunity. He’s going to a really good team that has a shot.”