Tim Anderson injury update: White Sox shortstop expected to miss 4-6 weeks with torn ligament in hand

Abraham Smith

White Sox star Tim Anderson has reportedly been on the shelf for at least a month after tearing a ribbon in his hand.

The two-time All-Star has had a pathetic drop over the past month, slashing .257/.304/.324 in July and just .185 in six games in August. Anderson is a player who relies on impressive contact skills to get to base frequently. He doesn’t walk often and isn’t known for driving the ball out of the park, which means the margins are very good for Anderson to make significant contributions to the White Sox’s batting order.

Nonetheless, his injury is a major loss to a Chicago team still trying to cement its postseason status. With an expanded playoff field, the White Sox are right in the thick of it. However, an injury to a crucial player like Anderson could mean disaster, especially for rising teams like the Orioles and Guardians.

Here’s everything you need to know about Anderson’s injury, including a timeline for his recovery and actions the White Sox could take in the meantime to make up for his absence.

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What is Tim Anderson’s injury?

According to Bally Sports’ Russell Dorsey, Anderson suffered a torn ligament in his hand.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Daryl Van Schouwen, Anderson suffered the injury while checking his swing on his final at-bat in Chicago’s 8-0 loss to Rangers on Saturday. Anderson flew home Sunday to have his hand checked before receiving the diagnosis.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa told reporters ahead of Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader that he had heard “nothing definite” about Anderson’s status but was “definitely concerned.”

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How long will Tim Anderson be out?

According to Bally Sports, Anderson is expected to miss four to six weeks due to his injury. However, this comes with a small caveat as Anderson may need surgery to fix the problem.

Either way, by early September, White Sox fans can expect to see TA again. If he takes the full six weeks to recover, he is unlikely to return to the Chicago lineup until late September.

Regardless, with Anderson out and Luis Robert just returning from injury, the White Sox will need some strong performances from the supporting cast to seal their third straight postseason appearance.

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Who will replace Tim Anderson in the White Sox lineup?

The main candidate replacing Anderson at the moment is Leury Garcia. Garcia is a clear underdog at the plate, averaging just a .522 OPS (48 OPS+) this season. He’s a slightly better defender than Anderson, but neither is particularly good. Garcia offers a similar profile to Anderson on the base paths. However, he needs to get down to base to make a difference, which he’s never been particularly good at in his career.

There’s a rift in Chicago’s starting spot without Anderson and it’s unclear who might fill in for the former Silver Slugger winner in the meantime. Anderson was already scheduled to miss the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader as part of his two-game suspension after “bumping” into a referee.

La Russa opted to hand AJ Pollock the lead in Tuesday’s opening game, perhaps a sign for the future. Pollock had some strong seasons in his 11-year career. But he’s in the midst of his worst year since making the majors, batting just .238/.286/.354 in 325 plate appearances.

Chicago will need more of what Pollock produced last year (135 OPS+) to rally for another postseason performance in 2022.

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