A day after they were chosen as the Chicago White Sox Minor League Players of the Month, outfielder Eloy Jimenez and pitcher Dylan Cease say they’re not worried about the timing of their call-ups to the big leagues.
Both players, who were acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade last summer, have been performing at a high level in the minor leagues, but it’s unclear when they will make their way to the White Sox roster.
Despite that uncertainty, Jimenez says he won’t let himself get frustrated by the fact that he’s still playing with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.
“I’m working to be there this year, but if the front office doesn’t think I deserve to be there, then that’s their decision,” he said. “I can’t get frustrated about things I can’t control. I will be ready when the opportunity arises, and when God thinks the time is right, I’ll be ready.”
Jimenez batted .435 with seven doubles, six home runs, and 13 RBI for the Knights in the month of July, earning Minor League Player of the Month honors.
Meanwhile, Cease compiled a 2-0 record with a 1.20 ERA and 42 strikeouts in five starts with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and earned White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors.
“I feel like if I was up there I could compete,” he said of a possible promotion. “Right now I’m just seeing what I can do right now to be the best player that I can be.
Chicago Baseball
The White Sox currently own one of baseball’s worst records, but don’t have any immediate plans to call up any of their top prospects, including Cease, Jimenez, and Michael Kopech, according to G.M. Rick Hahn.
With the pressure of a possible call-up having been tamped down by the front office, Cease says he’s working on his curveball grip, and Jimenez has worked to lose weight during the season.
“It’s been the same goals for me since I started playing,” Jimenez said. “I just want to improve in all aspects of the game and to have the same goal since I started here.
MLB rosters expand to 40 players on Sept. 1.
