It was another case of good news, bad news on the injury front Wednesday for the Chicago White Sox.
On the positive side, Michael Kopech returned from the injured list. But the Sox lost two relievers, placing Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall on the 10-day IL before their game against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Bummer has a strained right hamstring and Marshall a strained right flexor pronator in his right elbow.
“Just had a run of bad luck, and being on that side of bad luck the last couple of years, I can sympathize,” Kopech said of the team’s injuries. “I really hope we can turn that corner and get everybody healthy and back to being the team we are. We’ve done well with a lot of guys down but we’re capable of a lot more. Really hoping everyone gets on the field healthy and we don’t have any more setbacks.”
Kopech, 25, went on the IL in late May after suffering a strained left hamstring.
“It’s painful, it hurts, but I knew it wasn’t major, something I would have to work through,” he said. “It took a little longer than I wanted, but we put in a lot of good work and I’m glad to be back.”
Kopech has played a major role as a reliever and spot starter this season, going 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA, 45 strikeouts and 11 walks in 31? innings.
“I really just try to go out there and do my job every time,” Kopech said. “I’ve had a lot of distractions in the past and probably caused me to not be 100% authentic on the mound. My only focus is on the mound and supporting my family in that way. With me being able to go out there with one goal in mind and one objective in mind.
“I just feel like I’ve been able to stay in my focus. That being said, everybody comes in prepared for the season every year. I’m just grateful I’ve been doing well and I hope to keep that going.”
Kopech had Tommy John surgery in September 2018, forcing him to miss the 2019 season, then sat out the shortened 2020 schedule because of COVID-19 concerns and personal reasons.
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“Honestly my arm has felt great,” Kopech said. “I haven’t really had to worry about that this year. There’s been a few ups and downs as far as velocity goes and recovery from day to day. But for the most part I feel like it’s been great this season.”
Bummer, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, is 1-4 with a 3.26 ERA, 43 strikeouts, two saves and 10 holds in 32 relief appearances.
“Aaron is one of our strong, most important go-to guys,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “But that’s just part of the game. It looks like it’s just a 10-day thing and we’ll get him back.”
Marshall received attention from the trainers while on the mound in the seventh inning Tuesday and exited. He is 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA, 26 strikeouts and six holds in 27 appearances this season.
In addition to Kopech’s return, the Sox called up lefty reliever Jace Fry from Triple-A Charlotte. Fry was 0-1 with a 3.66 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 18 appearances in 2020, his fourth season with the Sox.
He began this season on the injured list as he recovered from a microdiscectomy. Fry had a 1.93 ERA in 13 relief appearances with the Knights.
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