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April 26: OF Tommy Pham selected from Triple-A Charlotte
Pham, who helped the D-backs reach the 2023 World Series, signed a Minor League deal with the White Sox on April 16. The 36-year-old said he got a lot of phone calls from interested teams early this past offseason but no offers until after Spring Training started. Pham said his decision came down to the Padres and White Sox, and economics factored in.

Pham will play center field with the White Sox, where he has 1,702 career innings. He said he lost weight this offseason to be more athletic, and he took fly balls and did his hitting routine as his free agency played out.

“The only thing I really didn't have was live at-bats every day,” said Pham, who batted .294 with one RBI in four games with Triple-A Charlotte. “But I was flying down to Florida, trying to catch some live at-bats at the end of every week, the past three weeks. Nothing can really mimic the game, that's the only thing.

“I got a few games under my belt [with Charlotte]. At the same time, I'm still playing catchup. I'm at a disadvantage, but I can't use that as an excuse. So it is what it is, ultimately, and I know what I'm up against.”

April 26: OF Rafael Ortega selected from Triple-A Charlotte; OF Kevin Pillar, LHP Bailey Horn designated for assignment; OF Dominic Fletcher optioned to Charlotte
Ortega played for the crosstown Cubs from 2021-22 and for the Mets last season. The 32-year-old had three home runs, 14 RBIs, 11 runs scored and 14 walks over 18 games with Charlotte this year.

“I was really impressed with Ortega in the spring,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “Obviously, he’s done it before in the big leagues, but I was impressed. The way he controlled an at-bat, the way he saw pitches, how he ran the bases, played defense.”

Pillar, who signed with the club as a free agent before Spring Training, batted .160 with one home run and four RBIs in 17 games this season. Fletcher, acquired from the D-backs in February, has slashed .203/.277/.271 in 20 games this season.

“I certainly personally can relate to someone that gets traded to a new team earlier in their career. It can be pretty trying at times,” general manager Chris Getz said of Fletcher. “You look around, and you don’t have a lot of familiar faces, so really just trying to slow his roll down and get some consistent at-bats down in Charlotte to get him back to himself, so to speak.”

Horn went 1-1 with an 11.32 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings over nine relief appearances with Charlotte this year.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

OF Luis Robert Jr. (right hip flexor strain)
Expected return: Mid-May
On April 26, general manager Chris Getz said Robert's return is "not too far off" and "a couple weeks away." Getz expressed hope that the center fielder, who is in Arizona going through his rehab, could rejoin the White Sox in mid-May.

"He’s doing really well," Getz said. "He’s out in Arizona. He’s running, he’s hitting, he’s moving around well, so it’s been really positive.”

"I'm not feeling as bad as I was feeling in 2021," Robert, who suffered a similar but more severe injury in May of 2021, said through interpreter Billy Russo after landing on the IL. "It's hard. Last night I couldn't sleep just thinking about that. Out of the whole thing, that's the hardest part." (Last updated: April 26)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

C Max Stassi (left hip inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Stassi, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 15, suffered a setback during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte when he was hit in the hand on a hitter's backswing. So, Stassi will need to recover from that, along with his left hip inflammation.

"It's not significant in regards to a fracture, but it slowed it down a little bit," general manager Chris Getz said. "We want to get him to the point where he can catch back-to-back games and his body's recovering before we bring him back.” (Last update: April 15)

3B Yoán Moncada (left adductor strain)
Expected return: Shortly after the All-Star break
While running to first on a ground ball in the top of the second inning on April 9, Moncada doubled over in pain and had to be helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list with a left adductor strain.

The estimated original recovery time for Moncada was 3-6 months, the team announced on April 10, but general manager Chris Getz gave a more optimistic return update on April 12. Moncada has hit .282 with three doubles and a triple in 11 games. (Last updated: April 12)

RHP Jimmy Lambert (right rotator cuff strain)
Expected return: TBD
Lambert visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache during Spring Training for a second opinion on his shoulder and was able to avoid surgery. He said something was there, but they had a program in place to try to treat it. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: March 28)

LHP Shane Drohan (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: TBD
The Rule 5 selection, who was taken in the Major League phase of the Draft, had what manager Pedro Grifol described as a nerve decompression. The plan was to have the southpaw start a throwing program right after the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL prior to Opening Day on March 28.

"I was really excited to watch him pitch," Grifol said. "We are excited to be able to identify that, and then to have it be something that we can get through and start that program right at the end of spring." (Last updated: March 28)

RHP Jesse Scholtens (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Early to mid-2025
Scholtens was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar cruciate ligament in his right elbow on March 1 and is expected to miss the season. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 27 to make room for Bailey Horn, acquired from the Cubs. Scholtens was 1-9 with a 5.29 ERA in 26 appearances (11 starts) last season. (Last updated: Feb. 27)

RHP Matt Foster (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Mid-to-late 2024
Foster missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery after he had the procedure on April 19. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 23. (Last updated: Feb. 23)

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