NewsProspect Viciedo shut down in AFL
Inflammation in shoulder ends third baseman's fall schedule
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
10/26/09 6:36 PM EST
CHICAGO -- Dayan Viciedo was shut down for the remainder of the Arizona Fall League schedule with inflammation in his throwing elbow, the White Sox announced Monday.Brent Morel will replace Viciedo on the Peoria Javelinas roster, joining other White Sox Minor Leaguers in outfielder Jordan Danks, infielder C.J Retherford and pitchers Justin Cassel, Matt Long and Jacob Rasner.
The 20-year-old Viciedo agreed to a four-year, $10 million deal with the White Sox before the 2009 season, as a talent-laden and power-packed free agent coming from Cuba. Viciedo, who will earn $1.25 million in each of the next two years and $2.5 million in 2012, played the entire 2009 season for Double-A Birmingham and hit .280 with 12 home runs, 20 doubles and 78 RBIs.
Viciedo was 6-for-18 over four games with the Javelinas, including one home run and six RBIs, to go with his six strikeouts. But Viciedo had not played in the past five games, since going 1-for-5 against the Mesa Solar Sox on Oct. 19.
With the designated hitter spot vacant for the White Sox and the team talking about using a rotation of players to fill that slot, Viciedo could find himself in play come Spring Training. But Viciedo could also benefit from another year in the Minors, holding the possibility that he could move positions, with Gordon Beckham entrenched at third base.
Morel, 22, was the White Sox third-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. The right-handed-hitting third baseman has a .293 average with 22 home runs, 106 RBIs and 37 stolen bases over 717 at-bats covering the last two Minor League seasons.
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
