Nomar Mazara is set to make his White Sox debut.
The South Siders activated their starting right fielder from the injured list Monday before the start of a four-game, home-and-home set with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Mazara was out of action for a week leading up to the start of the regular season, missing the team’s final intrasquad game and all three exhibition games. He was formally placed on the injured list the day before Opening Day for an unspecified reason. But he was back at it not long after, reporting to the team’s alternate training site in Schaumburg for a rehab assignment of sorts last week. Without him, the White Sox went 5-4 in their first nine games and sit in second place in the AL Central standings.
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Mazara, just 25 years old, was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers in December, and ever since the White Sox have spoke of the “untapped potential” they believe exists in a player who already has four major league seasons under his belt. He hit 79 home runs in those four seasons and figures to be another new source of power in a lineup that’s already showed what it can do, not even at full strength.
Mazara’s return to action, coupled with the arrival of Nick Madrigal ahead of a weekend sweep of the Kansas City Royals, gets the White Sox just about to where they envisioned they would be when the front office remade the lineup during the offseason. Starting shortstop Tim Anderson is the only piece of the puzzle currently not present. He was placed on the injured list with a groin strain Saturday.
Manager Rick Renteria indicated within the last few days that he could use Mazara as part of a platoon in right field along with Adam Engel, who has started the season strong.
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But Mazara’s return to the White Sox only helps as they look to build upon a four-game winning streak and meet the playoff expectations they set before the season started.
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