Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz exited today’s Grapefruit League start with tightness in his left forearm, though he told reporters after the game that he’s not concerned about the possibility of a serious injury (link via MassLive.com’s Jen McCaffrey). Obviously, caution is called for all the more at this stage of spring, so it’d be wise not to leap to any conclusions — particularly given Pomeranz’s comments. The 29-year-old, who is coming off of back-to-back seasons in which he posted a 3.32 ERA in over 170 frames, is a key piece of the Boston rotation. He’ll be further evaluated on Saturday.
Here’s the latest on the health front from around the game …
- The division-rival Yankees are also facing some injury issues, as MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch was among those to report (Twitter links). Of particular concern is prospect Clint Frazier, who required an MRI because he is still not recovering as hoped from a concussion. Surely the organization will exercise quite a lot of caution with the talented young player. Meanwhile, fellow outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has been diagnosed with a mild oblique strain. There’s no indication of just how limiting the injury will be — and for good reason, as oblique problems rarely seem to progress in a predictable manner. Fortunately for the Bronx Bombers, there are still four quality players ahead of this duo on the outfield depth chart.
- Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra, who is recovering from hamate surgery on his right hand, took batting practice on Friday, tweets Nick Groke of the Denver Post. He’s slated to face live pitching for the first time since the operation on Monday, and manager Bud Black estimated that Parra could be in a game in eight to nine days, which should still give him ample time to ramp up for the regular season. It remains to be seen just how the Rox will distribute playing time in the outfield, though Parra seems to be slated for rather extensive action so long as he remains on an upward trajectory.
- An injury forced newly signed Cardinals right-hander Bud Norris out of today’s spot start, writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Norris, filling in for Carlos Martinez (who had a personal matter to attend to, per the report), exited due to hamstring spasms after allowing five runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. At this point, it’s not clear whether this issue is simply an early-spring blip or something that will cause some problems for the hurler, who recently inked a one-year, $3MM deal to join the St. Louis organization.
- If there’s a hurler whose injury sparks some immediate cause for concern, it may be Dodgers righty Tom Koehler. It was announced he’d require an MRI on his shoulder not long after he was pulled in the middle of an inning, as MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick was among those to tweet. Shoulder bursitis caused problems for Koehler last year, when he struggled to a 6.69 ERA in 72 2/3 innings. The Dodgers have planned to move the long-time starter into a full-time relief role after promising him $2MM for the 2018 season.
velorum
Wasn’t Ellsbury out with a concussion and Hicks out with an oblique strain in 2017?
pasha2k
Ellsbury was injured all the time in Boston, I guess that went unnoticed before his signing.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
It’s that Supreme performance in the contract year that gets everyone giddy over these free agents. Nice to see GM’s wising up this offseason.
beastmode
Yah
pasha2k
First, not surprised Ellsbury is hurt, keeps the NYY from trading him! As a Redsox fan I’m laughing hard. But not laughing about Drew’s arm, you can never have enough pitching. May Arrieta DD if you listening?
Jean Matrac
The injury is not keeping the Yankees from trading Ellsbury. He could be 100% healthy, with a guarantee he’d remain that way, and they still wouldn’t be able to trade him. It’s not the injury, it’s the age, and contract, for a mediocre player.
pasha2k
If he rejected a trade he knows he wouldn’t play. Ellsbury was always mediocre. That was why Boston never made a good offer to him, plus his injuries.
Jean Matrac
It doesn’t matter, it’s a moot point, since there’s no reason for the Yanks to even ask him to waive the NTC. No one is taking him in trade. And as for playing time, there would have to be significant injuries for him to see much at all.
mikeyank55
Yes pasha…they had to conserve funds for their double header extravaganza;
Hanley and Pablo signings.
Is there anything worse in RS history?
The PRICE is right, huh?
pasha2k
Panda was horrific….thanks to Cherrington. Hanley was hurt all of last yr, but he hasn’t been horrific, nor has Price, since he was hurt. Crawford was a complete zero, n was responsible for Tito going n Theo following. He was a disaster n a horrible princess player.
morgannyy 2
Don’t forget Rusney, or taking on the Craig contract …
qbass187
DD is not going to push past the $237mil luxury ceiling for Jake Arrieta.
pasha2k
Yeah I know, but they need another decent starter.
Adam6710
You were laughing (rightfully so) as early as his initial signing. He was never going to be traded, and was never going to be more than a 4th outfielder this season.
As for Frazier, he was behind Judge, Gardner, and Hicks on the OF depth chart, and with Stanton at DH, he was likely going to start the season in AAA anyway.
MB923
He wasn’t going to be traded anyway.
thegreatcerealfamine
It’s if you’re listening…*T*
wrigleywannabe
He could be the healthiest petson in the history of mankind and still not get traded.
Cardinals17
Let’s see…..Personal Problem for Carlos Martinez….That would be he’s a head case. Norris gets hammered and leaves with injury….Thought he was in great shape according to Mo!! Cecil hasn’t thrown a pitch. Gregerson hasn’t either. Great work over the past 2 seasons John Mozeliak!!! Whose side are you on,….the Cubs and Brewers??? Jeeze!!!
jdgoat
Wow. That’s an ignorant comment. Hopefully the issues aren’t bad and hopefully you grow up
wrigleywannabe
You do know, you can be in great shape, but still get injured, right?
nmahan1984
Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
You need me to explain this to you?
troll
i agree. martinez is a head case
Rocket32
Ellsbury injured again. In other news water is wet.
Adam6710
This is one of those times the Yanks are probably hoping it lingers. He was never going to be traded, was never going to start, and if he’s healthy, he’s wasting a valuable roster spot.
jdgoat
Why not just DFA him then?
Joe Kerr
Insurance money if they have a policy on him if he’s hurt. Use his speed if he is healthy as a pinch runner or late inning defensive replacement and for blow out games. Just guesses.
jdgoat
I’m pretty sure it needs to be a season long injury to be insured, just by looking at other insured contracts. And while I agree that that would be his role, they stated his roster spot is more valuable to them when he’s not on it. If that were the case he should’ve been dfa’d by now
Begamin
It doesnt take a couple days for a concussion to go away. He should have been given ample rest with no activity for at least a week before trying to start up a workload again. You cant rush these things. Its why in MMA, you get a month/2 month suspension for a concussion. They need to just let Frazier stay home for a week while its still Spring instead of risking aggravating the injury.
start_wearing_purple
Even that timeline might be optimistic. Some players have rushed back and were still feeling symptoms months and sometimes a year later.
Begamin
While that is true, you have no idea how they conducted themselves throughout that month/year/whatever length. If you do hard workouts then go home play video games and read books while on a concussion you are bound to aggravate and elongate your symptoms.
yukongold
MRI to confirm he actually has a brain?
yesgeo
SO WHEN IS DREW SURGERY TO BE SCHEDULED. .. CLASSIC SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE LEADING TO LIGAMENTS. …
SO CLASSIC BOSTON TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT BLOWS UP…
WHO WILL BE HIS REPLACEMENT ??
bearcat6
Norris pitches in Martinez’s absence! Hmm. Dealing with “personal” matters and Matheny doesn’t know if he’ll be returning Saturday. Hmm. Then Norris injures hamstring. Hmm. When will Martinez grow up and become a man, and the acepitcher he is supposed to be? Now I’m worried. Cards’ front office better get off their duffs and sign a pitcher!
nmahan1984
Who’s to say it wasn’t something bad that happened? Then I bet you would feel bad. Wait, no you wouldn’t.
bearcat6
Just going on past history and troubles he seems adept at inviting and finding. I wish nothing but the best for Martinez, but he surely needs to mature and live up to his “ace” billing!
brucewayne
Lots of assumptions about Martinez ! He would’ve been a lot better last year
brucewayne
and won quite a few more games if Matheny would’ve known how to use a bullpen !
javier 3
Martinez is an amazing pitcher. If you are talking about Martinez like that go be a fan of the cubs