SEATTLE — Andrew Benintendi couldn’t wait to be in a position to get back to work.
The Chicago White Sox left fielder said missing time because of his recent stint on the injured list was “terrible.”
“I was bored just watching the games and wanting to be out there,” Benintendi said Wednesday. “Excited to be back right now.”
The Sox reinstated Benintendi from the 10-day injured list, one of four roster moves announced Wednesday.
Benintendi went on the IL on June 2 with left Achilles tendinitis. He is hitting .195 with five doubles, four home runs and 18 RBIs in 51 games. Benintendi returns after appearing in two rehab games with the Arizona Complex League White Sox.
“It just needs a lot more time to be completely gone but I feel confident being in there now,” he said of the injury.
He was not in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
“He flew today, he played last night (for the ACL White Sox),” manager Pedro Grifol said. “We’re just going to let him go about his business here, get his work done and be ready to go tomorrow.”
The Sox also reinstated reliever Steven Wilson from the 15-day injured list. The right-hander went on the IL on May 20 with a back strain. He is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA, six holds and 19 strikeouts in 21 relief outings. Wilson made two rehab appearances for Triple-A Charlotte before returning.
“I was kind of frustrated with it because I felt I was starting to get into a rhythm and feeling good on the mound,” Wilson said. “I had a couple good outings in New York (May 17 and 19) so that was frustrating. You never want to get on the IL.
“Thinking back, it happened when I kind of slipped on the mound in New York, that second outing the right side was kind of tight and when I worked out after that, my whole right side locked up when I was lifting. Kind of a bummer, freak thing but it is what it is.”
The Sox also optioned outfielder Duke Ellis to Charlotte and designated reliever Tim Hill for assignment.
Hill is 1-0 with a 5.87 ERA, one hold and 13 strikeouts in 22 relief appearances. He signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Sox in the offseason.
“It was unfortunate that we had to make a decision like that,” Grifol said. “We like what (reliever Justin) Anderson’s doing, we like what (reliever Jared) Shuster’s doing. So it’s not so much what he’s done, but it’s what he brought to us and also what these guys have been doing back there.
“We like Anderson. We like Shuster. These guys have done well up here and we can only keep eight back there (in the bullpen).”
Ellis went 0-for-4 with a run and four stolen bases in his first eight major-league games with the Sox.
“I saw a guy that can impact the game quickly with his legs,” Grifol said. “He’s going to continue to refine those skills and he’s going to be a big part of this when this is going really good.”
