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White Sox to activate Jimenez on Monday

Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Chicago White Sox lineup is about to get a major boost.

Outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez will be activated from the injured list and make his season debut on Monday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Tony La Russa announced, according to James Fegan of The Athletic.

Jimenez missed the first four months of the season after suffering a ruptured pectoral tendon late in spring training. He was expected to miss five-to-six months following surgery but instead needed just four to recover.

"As soon as he walks into that clubhouse he's going to light it up," La Russa said, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Whether Jimenez will play left field or DH has yet to be determined. Regardless of where he lines up, he won't take any playing time away from rookie Andrew Vaughn, La Russa said, per Fegan. Vaughn learned to play left on the fly after Jimenez's injury and filled in admirably, hitting 11 homers while playing error-free defense in left.

Jimenez, 24, won his first career Silver Slugger last year, hitting .296/.332/.559 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs across 55 games during the pandemic-shortened campaign. He hit two homers during his 12-game minor-league rehab stint this month.

Because Jimenez is on the 60-day IL, the White Sox will have to clear a 40-man roster spot for him before Monday's game.

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