When Chicago White Sox third baseman Brent Morel began a rehab stint with triple-A Charlotte recently, it looked like he was making progress toward a return to the majors. Unfortunately, Morel's back injury only got worse during the stint with the Knights, and back surgery could be necessary. Morel, not surprisingly, would like to avoid that if possible.

‘‘I definitely don’t want to have surgery,’’ Morel said Sunday. ‘‘I’m going to do everything I can to not do that, and hopefully with some time off, I won’t have to.’’

But Morel said his back got progressively worse as he played in eight rehab games with Class AAA Charlotte. He took himself out of a game Thursday in Toledo and returned to Chicago.

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On Monday, Morel is going to see a spine specialist in Chicago.

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