The injury bug has struck the White Sox again. On Friday, the team announced that left-handed reliever Cam Booser and right-handed starter Davis Martin have been placed on the 15-day injured list.
Booser is sidelined with a left shoulder strain, while Martin is dealing with a right shoulder strain. In a corresponding move, the White Sox called up right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez—acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade—and left-hander Jake Palisch, a former undrafted free agent who has posted a 1.19 ERA over 53 innings at Double-A Birmingham.
Booser’s last outing came in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader, where the 33-year-old lasted just two-thirds of an inning. He gave up three earned runs, including a two-run homer to Willson Contreras in the eighth, marking his third blown save of the season.
Booser was signed this offseason to be a key piece in the White Sox bullpen, but he’s struggled in his first year with the team. Over 30 appearances, the 33-year-old lefty has posted a 5.11 ERA with 27 strikeouts and a 1.42 WHIP in 24.2 innings.
Losing Martin is a significant short-term blow to the starting rotation. The 28-year-old right-hander is 2-7 with a 3.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 14 appearances — 13 of them starts.
Martin was originally slated to start Friday’s game against the Blue Jays, but his injury forced the White Sox to pivot, turning to No. 6 prospect Grant Taylor as an opener. With Jonathan Cannon also on the IL with a lower back strain suffered earlier this month, and Adrian Houser on the paternity list, the White Sox starting rotation will be in a tough spot in the coming days.
Martin’s injury is particularly concerning given his history. The right-hander underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in 2023, and with this latest strain affecting his throwing arm, the White Sox may choose to err on the side of caution as he works his way back.
