Reggie Yinger
Clinical Notes: Spring Training Injury Updates
Monday February 25th, 2013
Matt Kemp should see spring training at-bats very soon. (US Presswire)
With the exception of the aforementioned Curtis Granderson injury, most players that are held out of spring training games are merely done as a precaution.
The list of players below currently have an injury or they are on the verge of coming back. The data is sorted by MLB teams and then by the players.
For some players such as Allen Craig, Giancarlo Stanton, Jeff Keppinger, and Victor Martinez - they appear to be fine after dealing with injuries this off-season/early spring and have already returned to the lineup.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to see Matt Kemp
and Carl Crawford
return to the lineup for spring training games within the week or early next week. Both players figure to see a few at-bats as the designated hitter.
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Shelby Miller, who was shut down last week with shoulder soreness, threw live batting practice on Monday (25th) and reported no setbacks.
Miguel Montero
(thumb-Diamondbacks) and Alex Gordon
(back-Royals) were scratched Monday (25) from their team's lineups respectively. No cause for concern, as it's early in the year and it's not worth playing a guy with an injury during a spring training game.
The Los Angeles Angels are taking their time with first baseman Albert Pujols. He's hitting in batting practice and doing light running, but doesn't expect so see action in the Cactus League until the middle of March.
The Toronto Blue Jays seem to be sticking with Casey Janssen
for the "closer" role although he had a minor off-season procedure. Janssen appears to be fine, but with Sergio Santos
looking great in his first outing since hitting the disabled list in April of 2012, there could be a change in the ninth inning.
Danny Espinosa of the Washington Nationals reportedly has a torn rotator-cuff in his left shoulder, but plans to play through the injury because of rehab during the off-season. Espinosa only has value to owners in the power department, and I don't think he'll be valuable in 2013.
Lance Berkman
and Adrian Beltre
of the Texas Ranger have yet to see action in spring training games due to right calf injuries, but are getting work in on the side. Berkman has been working on running, while Beltre has been hitting in the cages.
Young pitcher Andrew Cashner
of the San Diego Padres, who lacerated his finger during a hunting accident during the off-season, is on schedule to throw for the first time this upcoming weekend. Cashner, 26, has already declared himself "ready to go" for Opening Day 2013.
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