White Sox release Drury after injury halts red-hot spring
The Chicago White Sox released veteran utility player Brandon Drury on Sunday, one day after announcing he'd miss the start of the season due to a fractured left thumb.
Drury had joined the White Sox this offseason on a minor-league contract. The 32-year-old was enjoying a stellar spring before the injury, hitting .410/.439/.821 with a team-high three home runs and 11 RBIs over 13 Cactus League games. That production had Drury in line to make the team as a veteran bat who could cover multiple positions.
However, the thumb injury interrupted his run. White Sox manager Will Venable said Drury sustained the fracture when he collided with a runner while playing first base during a defensive drill last week, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
Chicago didn't provide a recovery timeline when it announced Drury's injury Saturday but noted that he was scheduled for a follow-up with a doctor on Monday, according to The Associated Press.
With Drury out of the organization, the door opens for non-roster invitee Nick Maton to head north with the White Sox as a utility player. Lenyn Sosa projects to be the club's Opening Day second baseman, with Miguel Vargas at third and Jacob Amaya at shortstop. Two other veteran additions, third baseman Josh Rojas and outfielder Mike Tauchman, are expected to start their seasons on the injured list, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Drury, a 10-year major-league veteran, won the NL utility Silver Slugger in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres. He continued to produce at the plate the following year to put up a .803 OPS in 125 games for the Los Angeles Angels before regressing to a career-worst .169/.242/.228 slash line during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.
Chicago also announced Sunday it optioned right-hander Gus Varland to Triple-A Charlotte to start the campaign.
The White Sox are looking to improve their fortunes in 2025 after losing a modern-era record 121 games last season.