CHICAGO -- Nate Jones made a promise to Danny Farquhar, his friend and teammate, when he visited Farquhar for two hours Saturday morning at Rush University Medical Center.
That promise centered on Farquhar's No. 43 jersey, hanging with honor daily in the White Sox bullpen.
"I told him that we are flying it until he walks in here," Jones told MLB.com on Sunday morning.
Jones became the first White Sox team member to visit Farquhar, who has been recovering from surgery for a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. This tragedy befell the right-hander in the home dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field after he pitched against the Astros on April 20.
All communication between the White Sox and Farquhar had gone through Farquhar's wife, Lexie, according to Jones, with all involved wanting Farquhar to simply focus on getting better. Friends sent messages to say they're praying for him and willing to do anything he wanted them to do.
When Jones got the word about being able to visit, he was much more excited than nervous.
"It was an awesome experience, a guy we miss dearly. I was thankful and blessed I got to see him," Jones said. "It was an awesome time.
"He was moving around. He was making jokes. He's talking baseball, talking life, talking kids. We both have three. They are all about the same ages. It was a pretty humbling experience, that's for sure."
During the conversation, Farquhar, a seven-year veteran, mentioned wanting to return to pitch for the White Sox and worrying about when he could be back in the action. That wish led to a sweet encounter between Farquhar and his wife.
"Lexie was like, 'Let's make sure you are a functioning human being, and then we will worry about baseball,'" Jones said. "They were kind of poking at each other back and forth. It was pretty awesome.
"None of us in here knew what to expect, and to be where he's at today, it's a miracle. It's pretty awesome to see. He's a moving, functional human being. He's Danny."
As for future visits, Jones said that call of course is up to Farquhar and his family. Jones was thrilled to have Saturday's opportunity.
"We miss him out in the bullpen," Jones said. "We spend a lot of time together throughout the day and out in the bullpen during the game. It's somebody we missed and we are always hanging his jersey out there. We have his number on our hats.
"Like I said, I was blessed and thankful enough that I was able to go and got to sit with him for a couple of hours. It was very, very uplifting."
Avi making progress
Avisail Garcia, sidelined since April 24 by a strained right hamstring, took some swings Saturday and Sunday.
"He's progressing well, feels good," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We still have to put him on a regimen where we can start doing some more explosive work with him. He's still a little bit away but he's progressing well."
A Minor League rehab assignment is likely for Garcia before he returns.