GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox outfield gets thinner by the day.
On Monday, Austin Slater was scratched from the lineup before their Cactus League game against the Athletics with a left oblique strain, four days after Andrew Benintendi suffered a broken bone in his hand and three days after Michael A. Taylor was sidelined with right elbow soreness.
That leaves Luis Robert Jr. and Mike Tauchman as the Sox’ top two healthy outfielders, with Dominic Fletcher, Oscar Colas and Zach DeLoach moving up the depth chart. Corey Julks replaced Slater in left field Monday.
Slater, 31, batted .209/.321/.266 for the Giants last year and was signed to a $1.75 million contract with $500,000 in performance bonuses. His 0-for-9 with two walks and five strikeouts in four games this spring.
These last several days have put an injury damper on camp. Shortstop Colson Montgomery was scratched from the lineup with back spasms the same day Benintendi was hurt.
Right-handed reliever Prelander Berroa went down with an elbow injury in the first spring game.
Ouch
Prelander Berroa, who had a job to lose in the bullpen but was sidelined with Grade 1 elbow strain last week, said he will be re-evaluated this week. His long-term outlook remains unknown.
“I felt like my elbow kind of shrinked, something pulled up from my elbow,” said Berroa, who was hurt during the Sox’ Cactus League opener against the Cubs Feb. 27.
“I was in a lot of pain,” he said. “But I definitely feel a little better.”
Montgomery is day to day
Asked if Montgomery would be up and running by the weekend, Venable seemed somewhat cautious and said, “I would hope so.”
“But again, we’ll see,” Venable said. “Just taking it day to day. Just kind of where it’s been and where we are at in the year. Probably being just cautious and I think that’s appropriate right now. Whatever that means for when he starts playing again, it will be the right time where we are confident he’s healthy.”
Venable likes Chase
Chase Meidroth led off and started at shortstop Monday, and while his skill set might be best suited for second base, his comfort level is “good” there.
“I spent 2023 at third base, last year at short and my whole life at second,” Meidroth said.
In three minor league seasons, Meidroth has started 94 games at third base, 65 at shortstop and 59 at second base.
Meidroth has four walks and one hit, a double, in his first six games.
“Having that ability and quality of at-bat has been nice to see,” Venable said
Meidroth came to the Sox from the Red Sox with catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez in the Garrett Crochet for prospects trade in December.
Catching depth
The Sox like their catching group with Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss at the top of the depth chart, and Teel and Edgar Quero, ranked 32nd and 66th, respectively, among major league prospects by MLB Pipeline.
“I’m just trying to be a sponge around the veteran guys,” Teel said. “Guys with experience like Thaiss and Lee and [Omar] Navarez, it’s what little things can I learn from them about how they go about their business every day.”
Teel might not make the Opening Day roster but he’s not far away after playing his final 28 games at Triple-A Worcester last season.
“I can’t control those decisions, but I can control what work I can do every day to get better,” Teel said.
“It’s all about refining my game, polishing up everything little by little.”