The White Sox will be without a major offensive piece for much of the 2021 season.
White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez will miss at least five months due to a ruptured left pectoral tendon, Chicago announced Thursday.
Jimenez injured himself in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the A's as he attempted to catch a home run against the fence in left field. He exited the game shortly thereafter.
The 24-year-old outfielder emerged as a major offensive force in Chicago as a rookie in 2019. Jimenez hit 31 homers as a rookie, and he added 14 in just 55 games last season. He earned a Silver Slugger in 2020 after finishing the season with an .891 OPS.
The White Sox should still sport a potent offense without Jimenez in 2021. Chicago led the American League with 96 home runs last season, including double-digit homer campaigns from Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Luis Robert and Edwin Encarnacion.
Chicago reached the postseason for the first time since 2008 last season before an AL Wild Card loss to the Athletics.