The Sox were in need of some outfield help after Austin Hays went on the injured list \u2014 retroactive to Saturday \u2014 with a left calf strain.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, with Hays going down, you need a right-handed (hitting) outfielder,\u201d manager Will Venable said on Monday. \u201cHe was available and we feel really lucky that we got him. He\u2019s a guy with a ton of experience that has performed really well in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grichuk, 34, is in his 13th major-league season and has 212 home runs and 631 RBIs in his career. He spent last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals, where he combined to hit .228 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 113 games. He had a .194\/.212\/.323 slash line (6-for-31) with four doubles, two RBIs and eight runs in 16 games this season with the Yankees.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast season, a season the baseball card numbers weren\u2019t where you wanted them to be,\u201d Grichuk said. \u201cI hit the ball hard. I had expected numbers that were good. You can find some positive in those. Baseball fans, the team, they want to see production and baseball card numbers. Got a little unlucky, but it happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year is kind of a weird start. Broke (camp) with New York, faced (San Francisco\u2019s) Robbie Ray game two (of the season) and we didn\u2019t see a lefty for 13 days. We didn\u2019t do much pinch hitting while I was there. It was a little drought and then got going again. I felt good and got into a little bit of a rhythm there at the end. Swinging the bat well, hitting the ball hard. That\u2019s kind of all you can ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Venable said Grichuk will be utilized mostly against left-handed pitchers, and he\u2019ll see time at designated hitter and in the outfield. There has been some shuffling to the Sox outfield recently because of injuries, including Everson Pereira\u00a0going on the IL last week with a right pectoral strain<\/a> and the team selecting Jarred Kelenic\u2019s contract from Triple-A Charlotte.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of who we bring on board, they get up to speed and are happy to be part of that program,\u201d Venable said. \u201cJust credit our group of players for creating an environment that we can bring different guys into and get good results from.\u201d<\/p>\n Grichuk enters while Hays begins his recovery. Hays woke up on Thursday\u2019s off day with some soreness after playing the previous day against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping that it was just some fatigue, and then the next day, it was maybe a little more sore, kind of tender,\u201d Hays said Monday. \u201cBut same thing, I was hoping it was fatigue, so I played the first game in San Diego. Then we tried to give it a couple of days of rest, and just seemed like it was getting tighter and getting worse with the rest.<\/p>\n \u201cWe decided to get the MRI on it and it was a calf strain. There was no point during that (April 29) game at home where I felt like anything happened. I just kind of woke up with soreness and unfortunately it continued to get worse instead of better.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ctc-z-2274207694_262222799.jpg\")
Austin Hays of the Chicago White Sox at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 1, 2026, in San Diego. (Sean M. Haffey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n