The Chicago White Sox are coming into the 2015 season with high expectations after the additions of Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson and Adam LaRoche, but they will be without star pitcher Chris Sale after he suffered a foot fracture injury in Arizona while unloading things from the back of his truck.
According to ESPN.com, Sale will be out for three weeks after dealing with a freak injury he suffered while unloading his truck at his spring training residence while working out in Arizona. The team released the news and said that Sale landed "awkwardly on his foot" when getting off the back of his truck. Sale was one of the best pitchers in baseball last year and now he will be out for at least three weeks as he recovers from the foot fracture.
There is a chance that Sale could be ready for Opening Day, but right now that is not a certainty with his recovery time. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that the team will not need a fifth starter until two weeks into April and that could allow Sale more time to recover. Sale said the injury was basically a "sprained ankle" and it was covered in ice and bandages for the first day after the injury.
Sale had a great season last year while also missing time early in the season, ending up as a Cy Young finalist with Felix Hernandez and Corey Kluber, who won the award. Sale went 12-4 last season with a 2.17 ERA and the White Sox are hoping that he can recover quickly. According to Doug Padilla from ESPNChicago.com, the White Sox are not going to panic about the Sale injury and they likely will use a combination of Carlos Rodon, Brad Penny and Scott Carroll to make up the innings this spring.
The White Sox are expected to have a prime rotation this season with Jeff Samardzija, Jose Quintana, John Danks and Hector Noesi behind Sale and once he comes back they could have one of the best 1-2's in the league. The team was very active this offseason and signed LaRoche and also added Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera and David Robertson. The team finished 73-89 last season and they have Jose Abreu coming back after a breakout year with a .317 average, 36 home runs and 107 RBI.
