Tyler Johnson, Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Tyler Johnson learned he got released on Twitter after coming out of surgery.
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Tyler Johnson was feeling optimistic coming out of surgery on Thursday, but too bad he found out on Twitter he was released by the team shortly after the fact.
In order for the White Sox to make space after acquiring infielder Cesar Hernandez from the division rival Cleveland Indians, Johnson was released from Chicago’s 40-man roster. He quote tweeted the team’s official account with “And they said the post surgery anesthesia hits hard.” At least he has some humor about it because man, this is brutal timing after coming out of surgery.
Maybe the White Sox should have given Johnson a heads up before making the Hernandez trade?
Chicago White Sox pitcher finds out he was released on Twitter after surgery
With Chicago hold an 8.5-game lead over Cleveland, it would take a monumental collapse by the White Sox for them not to win the AL Central this year. For them to orchestrate a trade with a division rival, it largely signifies that even Cleveland does not think it catch the White Sox in the divisional race. In-division trades are rare, but getting cut, after surgery, has to be ever rarer.
Overall, the White Sox not only need to win the division this year, but need to advance past the ALDS and play in the ALCS for this season to be a success. While they have not won a World Series since 2005, Chicago is among the handful of teams who can realistically win it all this year. Though adding Hernandez could improve their infield, releasing Johnson after surgery is not a good look.
Maybe Johnson’s next team will not outright release him mere hours after going under the knife?