CHICAGO – Things could have turned out much worse for Tristan Peters.
In fact, when Peters suffered a left shoulder/rib contusion while crashing into the right-center-field wall chasing down Kevin McGonigle’s three-run triple in the fifth during an 11-8 loss Friday to the Tigers, the White Sox rookie center fielder thought the injury was worse than the eventual diagnosis.
“Oh, yeah, it could have been a lot worse,” said Peters after returning to action during the eighth inning of an 8-1 victory over the Tigers Sunday at Rate Field. “I know some of the trainers were scared initially. And I thought it was pretty serious at first.
“I was really dazed, though. But I think I’m super lucky.”
Peters passed concussion tests on Friday and actually made himself available to run on Saturday. Manager Will Venable spoke Sunday pregame about how Peters was progressing but still feeling sore, and with Monday’s off-day, the plan was to stay away from him during the finale of this four-game set.
But Peters pinch-ran for pinch-hitter Tommy Pham after his leadoff single in the eighth and then played left field in the ninth at the end of a game covering 2 hours, 50 minutes following a 3 hour, 50 minute rain delay.
“He had a really good day of treatment,” Venable said. “It was the benefit of the delay. He got some more treatment and moved around a little bit and thought he was good enough to go out there and play defense. Swinging is still a little tough, but throwing and running, playing defense was fine.”
“I actually did some swinging today, just off the tee at first and then I went to flips and then I went to arm,” Peters said. “And I felt pretty good. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and see if there’s any soreness or anything. I felt actually pretty good.”
The White Sox (80-76) enter these final six games at Kansas City and home against the Rockies just one behind the Guardians in the American League Central and three ahead of the Astros and Blue Jays for the third AL Wild Card and sixth seed. Having Peters, an AL Rookie of the Year candidate, back in Kansas City Tuesday would be a major boost to their cause.
“I’d say it sounds very possible,” Peters said. “I was encouraged by my swings today. Felt way better than I was expecting to. We’ll see.”