Natalia Chi
DETROIT — Liam Hendricks will have live batting practice at Comerica Park on Friday. It could be the last step before joining the team for the White Sox All-Star reliever.
Hendrix, who is recovering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, impressed director Pedro Grifol during his final live session in Cleveland on Monday.
“As soon as he pitches, we’re going to look at it and sit back as an organization and see where it goes,” Grifol said.
Hendrix’s appointment wouldn’t go into effect until Monday, when the team returns home for its game against the Angels, at the earliest. Grifol reiterated that Hendricks would not rush back.
“It all depends on how he looks tomorrow, how he progresses, where he feels he is, how his body feels, and where we feel he is. We’re going to make sure he’s back – he’s ready to be the Liam Hendricks we all want him to be, and he wants to be.”
catch tandem
Sevi Zavala has captured Lucas Jolito for the 10th time in 11 games, and according to Jolito, the two have worked well together, so it’s not a coincidence, but Grifol said Yasmani Grandal was the second in a row. He said that the reason why he could not capture it was that as a player, “I want to keep the two of them going.” Tandem.
Grandal will continue to do most of the work and could appear in the remaining three games of the Tigers Series.
“It was just a manager’s decision,” Grifol said.
“Sevi did a great job” [catching a 6-0 win over Cleveland Wednesday]I wanted him in there today and I wanted to keep the two of them going. And I believe they are doing a good job together. ”
Grandal had a .279/.347/.434 batting average and four home runs. Zavala batted .158/.198/.250, but he’s far better on defense.
“I don’t want to leave one person on the bench and not play for a week,” Grifol said. “I hope both of you are healthy and have a good time.”
kelly great things
Relief Joe Kelly “felt a weird pain” in his left hamstring while playing on the pre-mound tap in Cleveland on Tuesday, but was expected to be available Thursday.
It was the same hamstring that Kelley strained while running on the field when he was off the bench in Pittsburgh in April. In Cleveland, Kelly was checked by training staff and finished the inning scoreless.
“It only happens when you’re in an awkward situation, do you know what that means?” Kelly said. “That’s what happens when you’re 34, almost 35. Young in real life, but not here.”
Kelly played well off the mound, but “when I got down to pick up the ball and sidearmed it, it flew open and had a weird impact. But it’s okay.”
Andrus eye rehab next week
Infielder Elvis Andrus (left diagonal) will be on minor-league rehab duties early next week and is expected to be back by next Friday when the Sox open their weekend home series against the Tigers.
Andrus has been endurance throughout his career and is no stranger to oblique injuries.
“It’s the first time, so we’re very cautious,” Andras said. “It’s strange water, so we’re trying to act smart. Especially since the team is playing well right now, there’s no reason to rush.”
*Outfielder Billy Hamilton has been in IL since May 10 with a strained left hamstring and is undergoing rehab at the team’s training facility in Arizona.
