Mechanics are starting to ‘get in sync’ for Chicago White Sox 3B Yoán Moncada in a season filled with back issues – The Denver Post

It has not been an easy season for Yoán Moncada.

Back issues landed the Chicago White Sox third baseman on the injured list twice.

He’s seen some positive results at the plate recently, including two hits Tuesday against the Cubs in the City Series at Wrigley Field.

After collecting an RBI on a fielder’s choice in the first inning, Moncada doubled in the third and singled in the fifth.

It was Moncada’s fourth multi-hit performance in his last five games.

He had two hits Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, including his first home run since returning from the IL on July 25.

“I had a couple months where I wasn’t able to put the ball in the air,” Moncada said through an interpreter after Saturday’s game. “It’s good to see that now.”

Moncada said he’s “been feeling good.”

“The pain that I was having is gone, which is very good and I’m feeling much better,” he said. “I’ve been working a lot in the cage, on mechanics and hitting pitchers. In my at-bats, I’m just trying to be as early as I can and be ready for the pitch to hit.”

The solid stretch comes as the Sox dealt with an injury to another important member of the lineup. Designated hitter Eloy Jiménez did not start Wednesday because of groin tightness.

“Running down the line there (on Tuesday) his groin got a little tight,” manager Pedro Grifol said of Jiménez before Wednesday’s game. “I don’t think he’ll be available today but he’ll be day to day moving forward.”

Grifol said the injury occurred in the third inning when Jiménez was running to first on a grounder back to the mound.

“We have the day off (Thursday),” Grifol said. “We’ll see what he feels like on Friday.”

Jiménez hit fourth in the lineup Tuesday. Moncada moved into that spot Wednesday.

Moncada went 0-for-4 in the 4-3 loss in front of 40,869. He was at the plate when the Sox scored their first run on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. Moncada then hit a scorcher to first, which was nabbed by Cody Bellinger and turned into a double play.

The Sox got seven scoreless innings from starter Mike Clevinger and a two-run home run by Gavin Sheets in the fifth, but couldn’t hold on to a late lead. Christopher Morel hit a walk–off 3-run homer off Gregory Santos to end it.

Moncada is slashing .230/.277/.354 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 57 games.

“The reality is that I’ve been fighting to get to that point, to get to the rhythm that I feel comfortable with,” Moncada said. “Because what happened in that time that I was dealing with the pain, I created a bad habit. Because I was trying to protect that area. I didn’t want to feel that pain when I was swinging.

“Now, there are times where I feel like my mechanics are right. But there are times where I don’t feel on time, or I’m in that rhythm that I’m used to when I’m in full swing. That’s part of the process now. That’s what I’m trying to find right now. There are games where I feel good and there are games where I’m struggling a little bit. I’m fighting. It’s a battle every day.”

Moncada started 2023 strong. After earning All-Tournament Team honors while playing for Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, Moncada had two three-hit games, homered twice and drove in four runs during the season-opening four-game series at Houston.

But he went on the IL with lower back soreness on April 11. He returned to the lineup on May 12.

The Sox placed Moncada on the IL again on June 14 with lower back inflammation and reinstated him on July 25.

Grifol wanted to put to rest any perceptions pertaining to Moncada.

“This guy cares more than a lot of people that I’ve been around in this game,” Grifol said. “He works as hard as anybody in this game. He cares about his defense. He cares about offense. He cares about winning.

“If you get here at 2 o’clock, 2:15 (he’s) in the cage, working on both sides of the plate. You’ll see him take ground balls with (infield coach) Eddie (Rodríguez). You’ll see him in there watching video. You’ll see him in there working out. You’ll see him go through his rehab and his maintenance work. When it comes to Moncada, I don’t really care what it looks like to people. I know what’s real and this guy cares more than a lot of people think that he does.”

A switch-hitter, Moncada said the injury was affecting him on both sides of the plate.

Grifol said he is starting to see Moncada’s mechanics return to form.

“The back I think affected his mechanics a little bit,” Grifol said. “Now, not only is he feeling better, but his mechanics are starting to resemble what they were prior to the injury.

“Really looking forward to what he’s going to bring to us the last six, seven weeks of the season. Because he’s feeling good right now and his mechanics are starting to get in sync as well.”

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