Chicago White Sox’ Paul Konerko: ‘I’ll finish on the field’
By Phil Watson
Chicago White Sox veteran Paul Konerko, winding down his final major-league season, says he will finish the season on the field despite sustaining a fractured hand earlier this week.
Konerko told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune:
Konerko today: "I’ll finish on the field. ...I don’t care if I go up there and take three pitches and strike out, I’ll finish on the field."
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) September 6, 2014
The 38-year-old Konerko even says that merely returning for the White Sox’ final home series against the Kansas City Royals Sept. 25-28 would be the minimum acceptable outcome:
Swelling in Paul Konerko's hand has gone down after treatment. He says only returning for final home series is "worst-case scenario."
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) September 6, 2014
Konerko was hurt Tuesday when he was tagging Danny Santana of the Minnesota Twins after a bunt on Tuesday.
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After 15 years in Chicago as an everyday player, Konerko has been a part-time first baseman/designated hitter in his final season—he announced in spring training this would be his last year—and is hitting just .220/.272/.344 in 74 games, with eight doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI.
Konerko was acquired by the White Sox in November 1998 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Mike Cameron and his arrival allowed the Sox to move Hall of Famer Frank Thomas into a more full-time DH role.
A six-time All-Star, Konerko ranks second in franchise history with 432 home runs and 1,383 RBI and is third with 2,290 hits.
He was the MVP of the White Sox’ 2005 American League Championship Series victory over the Los Angeles Angels and had a homer and four RBI in Chicago’s four-game sweep of the Houston Astros in that year’s World Series.