Jose Abreu to return Monday for Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have been a pleasant surprise thus far in 2014. Despite losing their best hitter and their best pitcher to the disabled list this month, they are still hanging around a .500 record and square in the middle of the American League Central.

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Chris Sale returned to the rotation this week, and now they can look forward to the return of slugging rookie first baseman Jose Abreu. According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Abreu and the White Sox are eyeing a return against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday:

"“A Minor League rehab assignment might not be needed for Jose Abreu before he is scheduled to come off the disabled list Monday in Los Angeles…The plan for Abreu is to have him back every day at first base when he’s healthy enough to return. Everything is subject to change, but the unofficial target date remains the series opener against the Dodgers.”"

Abreu has been out with a left ankle injury. With that target date in mind, the White Sox are hoping that Abreu will not need to go on a rehab assignment before returning. Given the nature of the injury and the time spent on the DL, it sounds like the White Sox are content that Abreu will be ready to return to the everyday lineup immediately after he is healthy.

Even if he has to adjust a bit on the fly when it comes to seeing big league pitching again, Abreu has shown the ability to make such adjustments quickly thus far in his big league career. The White Sox are ready to trust their first baseman to do just that and get back in the middle of their lineup as soon as he is ready.