White Sox's Palka hits season's first, gets demoted

Chicago White Sox outfielder Daniel Palka recorded his first hit of the season on Wednesday and then was demoted shortly after the conclusion of a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals. Palka, who is batting .029 with 15 strikeouts in 35 at-bats over 13 games, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox said they will make a corresponding move on Thursday.

Palka ended his slide of 32 hitless at-bats this season when he hit a soft pinch-hit single to left field off Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy in the seventh inning. His struggles continued later in the contest as he grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded and the scored tied at 3 in the eighth. He later grounded out to end the game in the 10th.

Palka entered the contest as a pinch hitter for infielder Yoan Moncada, who was hit in the helmet while stealing second in the fifth inning. The White Sox said Moncada was examined and tested negative for a concussion.

One possible call-up option is veteran shortstop Alcides Escobar, who is batting .359 with a homer and eight RBIs in 10 games at Charlotte. The 32-year-old Escobar has a .258 career average with 41 homers, 442 RBIs and 174 steals over 11 big league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (2008-10) and Kansas City Royals (2011-18). Palka batted .240 with 27 homers and 67 RBIs in 124 games last season as a rookie.