Richar's time with White Sox short

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Richar's time with White Sox short
07/31/2008 3:12 PM ET
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com

Danny Richar was thought to have the inside shot at the second base job in Chicago this season. Instead, visa problems and injuries curtailed him early and ultimately helped pave his way out of town.
Richar was dealt to the Reds on Thursday along with reliever Nick Masset in return for Ken Griffey, Jr. Richar, who missed nearly two months with a stress fracture in his rib, had been playing for Triple-A Charlotte in the International League. It's not clear yet whether the Reds will keep him in Cincinnati or send him to their affiliate in Louisville.
The White Sox had acquired Richar from Arizona in a deal for Aaron Cunningham last June and after spending some time in Charlotte, he saw action in 56 games with the parent club. He only hit .230 but he had six homers and 15 RBIs in 187 at-bats while making a positive impression on the White Sox staff.
But his 2008 season got off to a miserable start when he showed up late for Spring Training because visa problems kept him in the Dominican Republic. Richar, 25, had suffered a back injury while playing winter ball and was off to a slow start in camp when the White Sox sent him for an MRI in the middle of March, which revealed a stress fracture in the first rib on his left side.
Richar, who was signed as an un-drafted free agent by Arizona in 2001, came off the disabled list near the end of May and has been at Charlotte since, where he's hit .262 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 248 at-bats. He had a 13-game hitting streak snapped earlier this week against Buffalo and has hit safely in 20 of 22 games, including collecting hits in each of the last two games against Louisville. The Bats are in Charlotte on Thursday night for a 7:15 ET game.
Despite missing a month, Richar has nine errors -- in 196 chances -- this season, tied for most among IL second baseman.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.