White Sox MiLB News: Campana Tears ACL

Poor Tony Campana’s season has come to an end before spring training has even started. The Chicago Sun Times reports that the 28-year old journey man outfielder tore his ACL and is likely done for 2015. Campana was expected to compete for the fourth outfielder spot on the Chicago White Sox when spring training starts in a few short weeks.

Campana was originally drafted in 13th round of the 2008 draft by the Chicago Cubs. He has floated around the minor and major leagues for the past seven seasons making a name for himself with his blazing fast speed and well-above average play in the outfield, mainly holding down centerfield. The ACL injury, which he tore in while recently training prior to camps opening, is detrimental to a player whose entire career has revolved around stealing bases and defensive ability.

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Campana has 257 career games at the big league level. Last season alone he appeared on both the Los Angeles Angels and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Chicago White Sox brought Campana in on a minor league deal to serve as depth behind Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia. Though he is mostly a career minor leaguer (he has appeared in more than 100 games at the minor league level in each of the past two seasons despite appearing in the big leagues over the same span), Campana could have been the perfect fit in the White Sox outfield.

Despite being a light-hitting outfielder on the big league level, Campana has thrown together a modest minor league career. He has a career .295/.352/.351 slash line while stealing 211 bases over seven seasons, good for about 30 a year. His highlight was his 2010 season when he was both a Mid-Season and Post-Season All Star in the Double-A Southern League slashing .319/.378/.384 and snagging 48 bases. The very next season he played 95 games for the Cubs, swiping 24 bags in his rookie debut.

Last season was a struggle for Campana on the big league level as he combined for a .197/.227/.424 slash line over 44 games. He registered a career low four stolen bases as well. Campana hasn’t hit a big league home run since his rookie 2011 season.

Campana will begin the long road back from surgery and hope that his speed isn’t terribly effected. Despite being a light hitting outfielder, having gone 66 for 75 in stolen base attempts over his big league career should make it easier for Campana to always find a spot on a big league roster. His pinch running and defensive ability is an invaluable asset to many clubs.

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