Chicago White Sox acquire 2B Cesar Hernandez from Cleveland Indians

ByABC News
July 29, 2021, 12:49 PM

The Chicago White Sox have acquired second baseman Cesar Hernandez from the Cleveland Indians for Double-A left-hander Konnor Pilkington, the team announced.

The White Sox have been in the market for a second baseman, and they get one in Hernandez, 31, who is hitting .231/.307/.431 with 18 homers in his second year with the Indians, who trail the White Sox by 8½ games.

"César Hernández provides our club with a valuable combination of a power bat in the middle infield and Gold Glove quality defense," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "Adding a player like César gives [manager] Tony [La Russa] a strong and proven option at second base for the stretch run of the season and hopefully into October."

The White Sox lost Nick Madrigal for the season in June after he had surgery to repair tendon tears in his right hamstring.

The trading deadline is Friday, when Cleveland opens a three-game series in Chicago.

Hernandez hit a two-run homer in Cleveland's 7-2 win over St. Louis on Wednesday.

The Indians have several young middle infielders in their system, including Andres Gimenez, who came over from the New York Mets in the offseason trade of Francisco Lindor.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report