KANSAS CITY -- The strange injury bug plaguing the White Sox claimed another victim on Tuesday, when Avisaíl García was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right knee retroactive to Sunday.
Strange, in the sense that the manner in which some of the injuries have taken place wouldn't exactly be considered normal. Garcia's issue came while stretching in the on-deck circle during Saturday's victory over the Orioles.
"I was stretching and felt my knee pop. I continued to play the game because I didn't feel anything," said Garcia, who had a MRI done that showed no structural damage. "At home, when I woke up, it started hurting a lot. I feel much better now.
"For like five seconds, I felt my knee go numb. Now I'm good. I feel better today than the first day. I can move my legs and I can sleep better now."
Right-handed-hitting outfielder Jason Coats returns from Triple-A Charlotte to take Garcia's roster spot and will start against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy on Thursday. Garcia hit three homers over his last five games before the injury.
"Every time I start hitting again, something happens," Garcia said. "You have to deal with it, it's part of this game. You can be mad later, the hurt is going to be there."
Garcia has a .240 average with nine homers and 36 RBIs in what could be considered a disappointing season. Despite the struggles, he firmly believes he can consistently hit in the Majors. He also believes playing the field every day, as opposed to serving as designated hitter, will help his production.
"One thousand percent. One thousand percent," Garcia said. "Why? Because you're in the game. If you don't hit, you can play defense and make a good play and go with that energy to home plate. I know I can hit. It's coming. Have to be patient. I want to play. I don't want to be hurt. The only way you're going to get better is playing, right? That's it."
Harrelson to miss two series
Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson, the iconic White Sox television voice who has been working road games primarily this season, will miss the Kansas City and Miami series due to illness.
Tom 'Wimpy' Paciorek will fill in for Harrelson for the first two games of the Royals series, while Jason Benetti, who handles TV play-by-play duties for White Sox home games, calls the finale. Steve Stone, the White Sox TV analyst, is taking off the Marlins series, with Benetti and Paciorek pairing to work those games. Harrelson is expected to resume his duties next Tuesday in Cleveland, alongside Stone.
Lawrie on the mend
Brett Lawrie took some good swings with a few White Sox pitchers during early batting practice on Tuesday and appears to be improving in terms of the strained left hamstring that placed him on the disabled list retroactive to July 22.
"He looks much better from where he was," manager Robin Ventura of his second baseman. "Another step in the right direction for him, but we don't know exactly how that's going to go. That's swinging the bat and he hasn't really gone full speed yet. Once we do that, we'll have a better idea."