White Sox claim Eric Surkamp off waivers from San Francisco

The Chicago White Sox have claimed left-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

Surkamp, 26, combined to go 7-1 with a 2.80 ERA (27 ER/86.2 IP) and 71 strikeouts over 16 starts between Class A San Jose and Class AAA Fresno last season. He limited left-handers to a .219 average (16-73), while righties hit just .208 (48-231).

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Surkamp (SER-camp) also made one start with San Francisco on July 23 vs. Cincinnati. He began the season on the disabled list after missing the entire 2012 season following ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow on July 24, 2012.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native made his major-league debut on August 27, 2011 with the Giants. He went 2-2 with a 5.74 ERA (17 ER/26.2 IP) over six starts in his first season in the majors.

His best season came in 2011 when he was 11-4 with a 1.94 ERA (32 ER/148.1 IP) and 178 strikeouts over 24 games (23 starts) with San Jose and Class AA Richmond. He led the Eastern League in ERA (2.02) and WHIP (1.08), ranked second in strikeouts (165) and tied for fifth in wins (10).

Surkamp has gone 33-14 with a 2.84 ERA (153 ER/484.2 IP), four complete games, one shutout and 541 strikeouts in 87 career games (83 starts) over six seasons in the San Francisco organization. He has been named to the EL mid and postseason (2011) and California mid and postseason (2010) All-Star Teams.

Surkamp originally was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of North Carolina State University.

The Toronto Blue Jays on Monday claimed infielder Brent Morel off waivers.

The White Sox 40-man roster is at 40.