Brandon Drury is back with the White Sox on a minor league contract. The veteran infielder will head to Arizona for extended spring training as he recovers from a thumb injury, per the team’s announcement.
Drury’s Strong Spring
The 32-year-old Drury originally signed with the White Sox over the offseason as a non-roster invitee in spring training. Despite his abysmal 2024 season, the thought was to give Drury a fresh start to see if he had anything left in the tank. A spot on the Opening Day roster was obtainable, and Drury made the most of the opportunity. He looked fantastic in the spring, hitting .410 with seven doubles, three home runs, and a 1.260 OPS in 39 at-bats. He was the team’s best hitter and looked poised to play a significant role in the middle of the lineup.
Injury Problems
Unfortunately, things did not play out so smoothly. Drury suffered what was initially described as a bruised hand towards the end of spring training in a defensive drill. The team later upgraded the severity of his injury to a thumb fracture. The injury was significant enough that a specialist had to get involved to determine a path forward in his recovery. Following the injury diagnosis, the team decided to release him altogether. Parting ways with their best hitter in the spring felt surprising, especially considering how bad the offense was last season. With today’s development, however, we know it was merely a procedural move for roster flexibility.
Drury’s timetable to return is still unknown. However, he should factor somewhere into the equation at the MLB level for the White Sox when he returns. The team’s offense is improved from last season, but they could still use more help. Drury’s defensive versatility also works to his advantage. He can play almost anywhere in the field.
White Sox Infield Logjam
Drury’s inevitable return will create even more of a logjam in the White Sox infield. Reinforcements like Chase Meidroth and Josh Rojas will soon arrive. With Drury back in the fold, the competition for roster spots will intensify further. Given the construction of the team, Jacob Amaya will likely head out once Meidroth arrives, while Nick Maton could go when Rojas returns. That leaves Lenyn Sosa and Brooks Baldwin as the next in line to potentially lose their spots. With the White Sox roster in flux, very few spots are guaranteed. The players will have to perform to keep their jobs.
Win/Win Move
Bringing back Brandon Drury makes sense for both parties. For Drury, there is a logical path to big league at-bats with the White Sox. For the White Sox, Drury should help boost the offense when he returns and potentially turn into a trade chip at the deadline if he performs well enough.
