CHICAGO -- White Sox general manager Rick Hahn updated the status of numerous injured players in the organization on Tuesday.
Right-hander James Shields (right lat strain) made a third rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday night, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings and 90 pitches, striking out six and walking three. The hope is that it was his last rehab start and the White Sox can activate him soon.
Left-hander Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) will start for Charlotte on Saturday, marking his second rehab start for the Knights and third overall. He's building his pitch count with each start, and although the White Sox have not set a target date, Rodon could return by the end of June or early July if he stays in rotation.
Reliever Michael Ynoa (right hip flexor strain) is progressing nicely and might not even need a rehab assignment. If he does, it could be a short one beginning this weekend. Relievers Nate Jones (right elbow neuritis) and Zach Putnam (right elbow inflammation) essentially have been slowed because their respective symptoms aren't resolving as quickly as the White Sox hoped.
Hahn didn't have a return-to-throwing date for Jones but thought he could ramp things up again in the next 10 days once he gets to a 100 percent pain-free standpoint.
"Putnam is also having a little bit of trouble becoming pain-free," Hahn said. "But he is climbing right now, and we hope this weekend to have him back progressing on a throwing program again."
Infielder Tyler Saladino (back spasms) is progressing, but the White Sox know how tricky the injury can be and won't rush him after he dealt with back issues in '16. At some point during the next road trip, Saladino will go to the White Sox training complex in Arizona to increase activity.
Outfielder Charlie Tilson (right foot stress reaction) continues to progress with baseball activity, playing in some controlled environment intrasquad games at extended spring workouts. By the end of June or early July, Hahn is optimistic they can get Tilson on a rehab assignment.
"He continues to climb," Hahn said. "But now we're getting to the point where it's been about 11 months since he's been in a competitive game, so we have a build that is going to take place before he's back out there."
Second baseman Yoan Moncada (sore left thumb), the No. 1 prospect in baseball per MLBPipeline.com, is starting to shake off the rust for the Knights after missing action from May 16-25.
"It took a little bit. He was a little rusty when he got back," Hahn said. "He's fortunately pain-free, and we think with some padding issues with the batting glove, we've been able to resolve that from recurring. Although he initially was a little bit rusty, he has gotten back to form now in the last few days."