Perhaps no team in baseball since spring training began has had to deal with the injury bug in the fashion that the Texas Rangers have this season.
When it rains it pours and the Rangers are still dealing with injury concerns, this time to leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo.
Apr 19, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo (17) bats during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
However there is some good news as it pertains to Choo’s injured ankle.
Choo is dealing with a sprained left ankle but is not going on the disabled list just yet. The Rangers, relieved that Choo is not dealing with a more serious high ankle sprain, are going to give him three days off and re-evaluate on Friday.
He left Monday’s game with a sprained ankle after trying to beat out an infield single in the top of the seventh inning.
Get him out of your lineups and monitor the situation.
The big free agent acquisition is hitting .314 with a pair of homers, seven RBI and one steal in his first season in Texas.
The Rangers already have 10 players on a disabled list.
In other injury news:
Coco Crisp, Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland A’s
Both Crisp and Cespedes were back in the Oakland lineup on Tuesday. Crisp led off and started in center field after injuring his right ribs while diving for a fly ball on Monday, while Cespedes batted fifth and played left, two days after aggravating his bruised right heel.
Crisp went 1-for-4 and Cespedes went 1-for-3 as both players drove in a run in Oakland’s 5-4 loss to the Rangers in which the A’s blew yet another ninth inning lead.
Desmond Jennings, Tampa Rays
Apr 4, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings (8) on base against the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jennings was back in the Rays’ lineup on Tuesday night, but manager Joe Maddon admitted “he’s not a solid 100 percent,” and may not be ready to play back-to-back games.
Jennings, who was sidelined by lingering soreness in the groin area, went 2-for-5 and is hitting .276 on the season.
Monitor his status before having him in your lineup.
J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
Hardy, who was not in the Baltimore lineup on Tuesday, could return Wednesday as he said his right hamstring was feeling “much, much better.”
The veteran ran and took some ground balls before batting practice on Tuesday.
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
MLB’s top prospect Buxton, who sprained his left wrist in a Minor League Spring Training game on March 16, could play in his first extended spring training game on Thursday.
Buxton, ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB.com, is scheduled to take batting practice on the field for the first time on Wednesday at the club’s Spring Training complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
Dee Gordon, Los Angeles Dodgers
Gordon was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of the seventh inning with an unspecified injury.
He had hustled for a double and stole third with a head-first slide, appearing to slam his head into the knee of Phillies third baseman Jayson Nix. Justin Turner took over for Gordon at second base.