MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox righty reliever Joe Kelly landed on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain Monday.
Right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton’s contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte. Middleton has pitched three scoreless innings for the Knights, recording one save.
The Sox also outrighted right-hander Jonathan Stiever to Charlotte.
Middleton, 29, was signed to a minor league contract in January.
“He’s a competitor, he’s intense, he takes the ball,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “I was impressed in the spring. There’s no hesitation on our part to have him with us.”
Middleton, who will wear uniform No. 99, is 8-6 with a 4.01 ERA and 13 saves in 154 career games with the Angels (2017-20), Mariners (2021) and Diamondbacks (2022).
After signing a two-year, $17 million contract last March, Kelly began the season on the injured list with a biceps nerve issue, then posted a 6.08 ERA in 43 appearances. His stint on the IL is retroactive to Sunday.
Kelly has allowed three runs on four hits in three appearances this season.
