Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez will need surgery to repair a ruptured pectoral tendon, with an estimated recovery time of five to six months, general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday.
The news is a major blow to a White Sox team that’s expected to contend for an AL Central title this season under new manager Tony La Russa.
Jimenez, 24, hit 31 homers as a rookie in 2019, then improved his batting average (.296), on-base percentage (.332) and slugging percentage (.559) across the board in his second season.
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He suffered the injury in Wednesday’s spring training game attempting to catch a ball that cleared the outfield fence for a home run.
Not good. Eloy exits the game after trying to rob a home run. pic.twitter.com/7rQ0BDbwy7
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) March 24, 2021
Hahn said the team is optimistic Jimenez will return to action this season.
However, his lengthy absence could force the team to look to the trade market to fill his spot in the everyday lineup.
Jimenez was the No. 48 overall player in USA TODAY Sports’ 2021 preseason fantasy baseball rankings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eloy Jimenez: White Sox slugger to undergo surgery for ruptured tendon