White Sox Fri Apr 11 2014

Garcia Out For Year, Still In Our Hearts

By Mike Chamernik

The season is only a week and a half old, but already we've seen some good things out of the White Sox group of young guys. Jose Abreu is tearing the cover off of the ball, Adam Eaton is hustling his way into our hearts and Chris Sale has been, well, Chris Sale. So far, so good.

For the most part. A day after having his best game of the (super, super, super) young season, Avisail Garcia tore the labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the year. Ugh. He was one of the guys to watch on this White Sox team and not having him around will be depressing.

Garcia was acquired last year in the Jake Peavy trade and the soon-to-be 23-year-old was a good get in that transaction. He may struggle with plate discipline but he hits the ball. He was a top Tigers prospect for a few years, and was half decent with the Sox over the last two months of the season (.775 OPS, five homers in 42 games).

What else is notable about Garcia's injury? A few things.

• More Dayan Viciedo will be in our lives. Awesome. He's not a bad player, but... yeah.

• OK am I the only one who doesn't understand Jordan Danks's appeal? Danks was called up to the Sox and will be the fourth outfielder. He had five homers in spring and everyone went gaga over him. Sure, he can really connect on a ball from time to time, but the guy is as replacement level as it gets. He's also 28. Of course I'm rooting for him and he could be a great story and everything, but I'm just seeing some undue inflation to his value.

• The Sox acquired Gorkys Hernandez on Thursday. He was involved in three significant trades over the last seven years and he was a Baseball America Top-100 prospect in 2008 and 2009. Hernandez, though, turns 27 this year and only has 173 total plate appearances (all in 2012) so his impact on this Sox team is nil.

• Garcia moves to the DL, joining Gordon Beckham, Jeff Keppinger and Nate Jones. Painful start to the season.

• I liked having Garcia's bat towards the bottom of the order. It was like having a bonus. Abreu and Dunn are out, but hey, there's Avisail!. Now that threat in the fifth, sixth or seventh spot is gone.

• The Sox still aren't sure what they have with Garcia. This season is shot. Last season was semi-shot with him because of the trade and a switch in roles. Next year might have the "He's coming back from injury, give him a break" feel to it.

Fortunately, Garcia will only turn 24 next year, he should make a full recovery and the Sox can afford to be patient. This year is a bummer but Garcia will return in 2015 and still be a main member of the team. At least the Sox still have Abreu, Eaton and Sale this season.