AL CENTRAL NEWS AND NOTES

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Jim Thome received a black 8-foot bat that had his name and images on it as part of an Aug. 11 celebration at U.S. Cellular Field for being inducted into the Hall of Fame in July.

Thome spent four seasons of his 22-year career with the White Sox and is a special assistant to general manager Rick Hahn.

Thome is best remembered during his time with the White Sox for hitting a home run in a 1-0 victory over the Twins in the 2008 AL Central tiebreaker game. He grew up in Peoria, Illinois, about 130 miles southwest of Chicago.

❚ The White Sox hope outfielder Leury Garcia will be ready to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week. He has been out since Aug. 6 because of a strained left hamstring.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

The Indians are optimistic that Edwin Encarnacion won’t be missing from the middle of their batting order for long.

The DH was placed on the disabled list Aug. 11 because of pain in his left biceps and a bruised right hand. Encarnacion is hitting .229 but has 25 home runs in 104 games.

Encarnacion was hit on the hand by a pitch from Yankees reliever Chad Green on July 15 in the last game before the All-Star break. That caused Encarnacion to begin swinging onehanded at times, putting stress on his upper arms.

Rookie outfielder Yandy Diaz was recalled from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) and was expected to get most of the DH at-bats.

❚ Rookie Greg Allen and veteran Rajai Davis will platoon in center field while Leonys Martin recovers from a bacterial infection that at one point was life threatening. Director of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said toxins got into Martin’s blood and damaged multiple internal organs. “He’s got a long path to get to full health,” Antonetti said.

DETROIT TIGERS

Rookie right-hander Artie Lewicki will get a chance to start regularly after rotation stalwart Mike Fiers was traded to the Athletics.

Lewicki made one start for the Tigers last season and two starts this year in early June. He was a combined 0-3 with a 6.59 ERA in those games.

Fiers was 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 21 starts.

Right-hander Jacob Turner was called up from Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) after Fiers was traded. Turner started and lost to the Angels on Aug. 7 in Anaheim,

California, getting rocked for seven runs (five earned) in one inning, then was designated for assignment.

❚ The Tigers signed free agent right-handed reliever Zach McAllister, released by the Indians after he had a 4.97 ERA in 41 games this season.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Rookie right-hander Heath Fillmyer looks as if he could be part of the Royals’ rebuild.

Fillmyer was 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA in nine games, including five starts, since being called up from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Nebraska) and making his major league debut June 24.

He earned his first win Aug. 8 when he pitched seven scoreless innings against the visiting Cubs, who were leading the National League Central.

Manger Ned Yost struck with Fillmyer through the end of the seventh inning even after he gave up two singles with one out while clinging to a 2-0 lead.

❚ Right-hander Jesse Hahn, on the disabled list all season because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, was forced to leave in the first inning of his rehab start with Omaha on Aug. 7.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Another key player was traded when closer Fernando Rodney was dealt to the Athletics on Aug. 9 for minor league righthander Dakota Chalmers.

The move came after the Twins shipped out right-hander Lance Lynn, left-handed reliever Zach Duke, right-handed reliever Ryan Pressley, second baseman Brian Dozier and infielder Eduardo Escobar.

The moves did not go over well in the clubhouse even though the Twins entered the week 12 games behind the Indians in the AL Central Division standings.

Right-hander Trevor Hildenberger will get a chance to replace Rodney as the closer.

❚ Tyler Austin, acquired from the Yankees in the trade for Lynn, is the new designated hitter. He replaced Logan Morrison, who is scheduled to have season-ending surgery to repair a left hip impingement. Austin homered in his Twins debut Aug. 11.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

VICTOR ALCANTARA, TIGERS: The 25-year-old rookie right-handed reliever is making a case to be part of Detroit’s rebuilding plans. Alcantara allowed one run in his first 11 appearances (13 2 ⁄ 3 innings) this season for a 0.66 ERA. Acquired from the Angels for outfielder Cameron Maybin in November 2016, Alcantara made his major league debut last year and had an 8.59 ERA in six games.