Adam Eaton continues to excel despite shoulder soreness

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- His sleep pattern is a mess and he can’t throw as well but Adam Eaton continues to hit.

Bothered by a sore shoulder since late July, the White Sox leadoff man has thrived at the plate. Since he initially hurt himself diving in the outfield on July 25, Eaton has hit .333/.406/.472 with 13 extra-base hits, including three home runs, in 166 plate appearances. Eaton said he has altered his throwing mechanics to deal with the soreness. He also has had trouble sleeping because he’s had difficulty finding a comfortable position in which to sleep.

“The shoulder has really just been my arm, my throwing and my throwing mechanics have changed a little bit and my sleep habits have been terrible,” Eaton said. “But besides that, it’s just how it is. When shoulders are bad, it’s tough to lay in any position or anything like that and involves throwing. It is what it is and everyone has bumps or bruises up here.”

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Eaton initially injured himself diving in the outfield in Cleveland on July 25. He sat out the next day and returned to the field on July 27. Eaton also left an Aug. 7 contest in Kansas City after only four innings with what the team described as a “jammed” left shoulder.

Asked if rest would help him heal, Eaton said he and trainer Herm Schneider would devise a plan after the season ends on Oct. 4.

“It’s something Herm and I have to discuss what he thinks we need to do and at the end of the season but we’re not really sure what we’re going to do with it,” Eaton said. “He knows a lot more about it than I do.”

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Asked if he’d need surgery, Eaton said he preferred not to comment.

“It’s probably pretty difficult to call right now,” Eaton said.

Eaton has a history of excelling in spite of injuries. He broke his finger in 2014 and actually improved at the plate, which he said affected his game far more than his shoulder has.

“My finger was actually a lot more altering how I played,” Eaton said.

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