White Sox right-hander Jimmy Lambert was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain on Wednesday, just hours prior to the series finale in Cleveland. Career reliever Matt Foster was added to the active roster and is a call away from making his big-league debut.
Foster joins catcher Zack Collins, right-hander Ian Hamilton and the aforementioned Lambert as homegrown prospects from the 2016 draft class added to the 2020 White Sox active roster.
A FOCUS ON LAMBERT
Lambert was a fifth-round draft pick out of Fresno State who served as a starter in the White Sox system throughout his minor league career, making it as high as Double-A Birmingham. The 25-year-old accumulated 342.2 innings across 70 games (68 starts) before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of 2019.
Lambert was among the initial 44 players added to the White Sox 60-man roster on June 29, which marked a full year after elbow surgery. He followed a throwing protocol throughout the summer restart period, which included live bullpens and intrasquad game appearances.
Pitching coach Don Cooper talked up Lambert to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Sun-Times following an outing on July 11:
Best I’ve seen [Lambert] up close. I’m happy to see it because I know now we’ve got another guy. He’s real. Coming back from an injury, but I know as he maxes out on the command with his God-given stuff, he’s going to be another pitcher for us. Outstanding changeup, good fastball, knows how to spin the curve and slider. Did a really nice job in his two innings.
In his first live action since surgery, the righty allowed one hit and struck out two over as many innings on a July 19 exhibition against the Cubs.
Lambert earned a spot on the White Sox Opening Day 30-man roster and made his major league debut on July 25 and allowed a hit while striking out one. Three days later, he matched that performance against Cleveland, but pain following the outing forced things to be put on hold.
Lambert worked hard post-surgery to get his body ready for this season. As our Rob Young reported back in November of 2019, the right-hander resumed throwing roughly four months following his operation. The organization also added him to the 40-man roster that month in order to protect him from Rule-5 eligibility.
As circumstances beyond Major League Baseball’s control delayed the 2020 season, Lambert put himself in a position to make an impact during a year filled with unpredictability. Unfortunately, the emphasis is now on the way Lambert’s body will react after pushing himself 13 months following major surgery on his throwing arm.
FOSTER ANOTHER ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT
Following appearances in all six U.S.-based affiliates across his four-year span in the system, Foster is another White Sox prospect on the verge of making his Major League debut. Drafted out of the University of Alabama in the 20th round, Foster appeared in 132 games – all out of the bullpen – and totaled a 2.52 ERA over 182 innings.
The 25-year-old spent the majority of 2019 in Triple-A Charlotte, where he worked to the tune of a 3.76 ERA in 37 appearances. Foster struck out 62 and walked 19 in 55 International League innings.
Bernardo Flores, a seventh-round pick, and Zack Burdi, taken No. 26 overall, are two remaining homegrown pitchers from the 2016 draft class who are among the 60-man player pool.
KEEP AN EYE ON DANE DUNNING
Similar to Lambert, Dane Dunning worked through a rehab program following Tommy John surgery in 2019. Dunning had his surgery on March 16, which occurred roughly three months prior to his teammate’s operation.
Dunning was on the right track in his rehab dating back to February as pitchers and catchers initially reported to Arizona. He later appeared in the final exhibition on July 20 against Milwaukee, where he allowed a run on a hit while walking three and striking out two across two innings.
It’ll be interesting to monitor the White Sox decision making regarding Dunning’s incorporation to the active roster. They may not force things as a result of the Lambert news as Dunning awaits his turn in Schaumburg.
Photo credit: Clinton Cole/FutureSox
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