White Sox reinstate Leury Garcia from disabled list; Michael Kopech still in Charlotte

Leury Garcia

After Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox optioned outfielder Ryan LaMarre to Triple-A Charlotte.

For some, that might have sparked hope that the Sox finally were going to call up an interesting prospect.

Ha! That isn't happening.

Instead, the Sox activated utility player Leury Garcia from the 10-day disabled list. Garcia has been out since Aug. 5, when he strained his left hamstring in Tampa Bay.

Garcia is hitting .280/.310/.394 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 73 games with the Sox this season.

Kopech still in Charlotte

James Shields, Dylan Covey and Reynaldo Lopez are the Sox's three scheduled starting pitchers for this weekend's home series against the Kansas City Royals.

We keep thinking Covey and his 6.06 ERA are going to be removed from the rotation, but it hasn't happened yet.

The logical choice to replace him, of course, is top pitching prospect Michael Kopech.

That will not happen this weekend, however, as Kopech made his scheduled start Thursday at Triple-A Charlotte. He went six innings, allowing one run on seven hits, while striking out nine and walking none in a 9-4 victory over Louisville.

He also intentionally drilled an opposing batter in the fourth inning to spark a benches-clearing incident.

In any case, Kopech has a 1.84 ERA over his past seven starts. He has struck out 59 and walked only four in 44 innings over that same span.

Despite last night's moment of immaturity, he's ready for the major leagues. How much longer will Sox management claim he is not?