Sprained left knee puts Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal on injured list — but no acute ligament damage — Reading Eagle

Yasmani Grandal singled to left to start the seventh inning for the Chicago White Sox against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday at Progressive Field.

He advanced to second on a wild pitch and tried to score when Elvis Andrus singled to center, but was out of the plate. Grandal, trying to avoid the tag, grabbed his left knee and fell to the ground. He had to be helped from the field.

The Sox will be without a catcher after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee, one of three roster moves announced Sunday.

The Sox also optioned the contract of catcher Carlos Perez from Triple-A Charlotte and assigned pitcher Kyle Crick to the 60-day Illinois. Crick has been on the injured list since June 14 with right elbow inflammation.

An examination of Grandal’s left knee revealed no acute damage to the ligaments, tendons or cartilage around the knee, Sox said. It deals with inflammation caused by hyperextension of the knee and will progress as tolerated.

Grandal is expected to return to action in 10-14 days.

He has a .203 average with five doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 74 games. This is his second time at IL this season. He was out from June 12 to July 22 with lower back spasms.

With Grandal unavailable, Sebi Zavala steps into the starting role at the plate. Zavala is slashing .279/.326/.395 with nine doubles, two homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games.

“When he came in (last) season, you could tell he had talent, but he was kind of brand new,” Sox manager Tony La Russo said. “(At) the beginning of (this) spring training, he was a different guy. The experience really benefited him. He has hits, he really relates to pitchers, he’s quick with his release.

“He’s got a good career ahead of him.”

Perez, 26, is slashing .257/.319/.446 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs and 27 RBIs in 91 games for the Knights this season.

“I’m so happy,” Perez said. “Working hard every day to get here. I will try to do my best here.”

Perez has a career .269/.317/.383 slash line with 85 doubles, 37 home runs and 239 RBIs in 509 games over eight seasons (2014-19, 2021-22) in the Sox minor league system. He was originally signed as an international free agent in March 2014.

Perez said he took a lot from his previous interactions with Grandal.

“He worked with me in spring training and a couple of weeks when he was rehabbing in Charlotte,” Perez said. “Good man, I like him.”

La Russa had no problem with third base coach Joe McEwing waving to Grandala.

“I know at least five of us, we all saw Yasmani get a great break (in the second), we all saw the break,” La Russa said. “We saw where the ball hit. We had trouble getting home from the third. We all said send him. What happened, he looked around. So he lost his steps and then made a U-turn. I don’t think you can blame Joe.

“If you’re having trouble scoring, you should lean toward being more aggressive, not less aggressive — I’m not talking nonsense. So, in that case, as soon as the ball hits, (Grandal) moves. That’s what Joe saw. He made the right call. It just happened with an injury.”

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