Yasiel Puig dealing with back inflammation

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a glut of outfielders. It has been an intriguing talking point since the middle of last season. Should they trade Andre Ethier? What about trying to find a deal for Matt Kemp? Can they afford to gamble on Carl Crawford long term? Will Yasiel Puig eventually be banished from the league for breaking too many unwritten rules?

Problem is, the Dodgers only have the problem of too many outfielders if those guys can stay healthy. So far this spring things have been rough on that front. Crawford is battling hamstring tightness, Kemp is working his way back slowly from ankle surgery, and now Puig is dealing with a lingering back/shoulder issue.

From Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Puig exited Wednesday night’s game with the injury but then was back on the field Thursday afternoon against the Angels. In that game he looked like he was moving around pretty well on the whirlwind sequence that almost resulted in a Mike Trout inside the park home run. That play involved him diving for a line drive and missing, sprinting to the wall to retrieve the ball, and making a strong throw flat-footed to relay man Hanley Ramirez.

Indications are that Puig will be able to comfortably play through these issues, but the Dodgers will certainly continue to monitor his situation.