Sports

White Sox Lose Pitcher to Injury Before Giants Game

Jordan Hicks is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a right lat strain injury. The Chicago White Sox will be without Hicks ahead of their game against the San Francisco Giants after the team announced that the right-handed pitcher has been placed on the 15-day injured list.

The move is retroactive to Thursday for Hicks, who is 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 20 relief appearances this season. Hicks' absence is another setback for a White Sox team that has been trying to stay competitive during a difficult stretch on the road.

However, fellow right-hander Jordan Leasure has been recalled from Class AAA Charlotte as the corresponding move and the 27-year-old is expected to be back in a middle-relief role.

Leasure posted a 2-1 ⁠record with a 6.06 ERA in 16 appearances (one start) with the White Sox this ⁠season. He has a 2.08 ERA without a decision in four ⁠relief appearances this season with Charlotte and was optioned by the White Sox on May 7.

The White Sox recently wrapped up a series against the Seattle Mariners before heading to San Francisco. Hicks joined the White Sox earlier this year after being traded from the Boston Red Sox.

The 29-year-old came to Chicago with a strong reputation for powerful fastball and late-inning experience. He is 17-36 with a 4.46 ERA in 295 career appearances (37 ‌starts) ⁠with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Red Sox and White Sox.

The White Sox hoped Hicks could help stabilize the bullpen after some inconsistent performances early in the season. Team officials had also spoken during spring training about returning him to a bullpen role after his difficult run as a starter with the Giants. Hicks has dealt with injuries before during his major league career.

Last season, he spent time on the injured list because of shoulder tendinitis while he was with Boston. Earlier in his career, he also battled elbow and shoulder issues.

 May 3, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jordan Leasure (49) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
May 3, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jordan Leasure (49) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

While the team has not shared a full long-term outlook, losing Hicks even for a short period creates another challenge for Chicago's pitching staff. The bullpen has already carried a heavy workload during the recent West Coast trip, especially after some tough games against Seattle.

The timing is also important because the Giants enter the series with momentum at home. San Francisco has remained one of the tougher teams in the National League this season, and the White Sox were expected to rely on every available arm during the matchup. The team enters the series looking to bounce back after a mixed stretch of results.

Although they've shown flashes of improvement this season, injuries and inconsistency have continued to make things difficult.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 3:04 PM.

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