Soto, who has been sidelined since mid-May following right elbow surgery, remains hopeful to return from the 60-day disabled list before the 2017 season ends, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Soto said he's 100 percent recovered from the procedure and has been rehabbing in Chicago so he can serve as a mentor to the team's relatively inexperienced healthy backstops, Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith. Even so, it's unclear how close he is to swinging a bat, and with the minor-league schedule set to end shortly, Soto could be forced to pick up at-bats in simulated games if the White Sox are serious about activating him before season's end. If he doesn't return in 2017, the 34-year-old Soto, who will be a free agent this winter, said he fully intends to keep playing next season.