Athletics outfielder Boog Powell is headed to the DL after suffering a knee sprain, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The left-handed-hitting Powell has hit just .167/.200/.292 in the first week of the season, though he did impress with a 135 wRC+ in limited action with the A’s last season. Powell beat out top prospect Dustin Fowler for the starting center field job during spring training, but he’ll now be absent for at least ten days while rehabbing.
Other injury notes from around baseball…
- Maria Guardado of MLB.com tweets that Angels righty J.C. Ramirez exited his most recent start with “forearm tightness”. It’s highly disturbing news for the Halos; Ramirez was diagnosed with a partially-torn UCL in his throwing elbow last season, but elected to go with stem cell surgery rather than opt for a Tommy John procedure. Ramirez has thrown 6 2/3 innings this season; he’s struck out four opposing hitters while allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and seven walks.
- Rockies star Charlie Blackmon is dealing with some back spasms, but told reporters he is not injured (h/t Nick Groke of the Denver Post). “It was a little bit tight for most of the game and kept getting tighter. I’ve dealt with it before and been all right.” Blackmon, of course, just signed an extension with Colorado and is a key component to their contention plans this season.
- The Red Sox have officially activated left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez from the 10-day disabled list. Right-hander Marcus Walden has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket in a related move. Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald writes that Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson are expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the time being, as the Sox have a number of off days coming up; those days will eliminate the need for a fifth starter for the time being. The 25-year-old pitched to a 4.19 ERA last season in 137 1/3 innings last season, and is coming off a winter knee surgery.
- Jordan Bastian of MLB.com has the latest updates on a number of Indians injuries. Right-hander Danny Salazar (shoulder) is still unable to throw off a mound with “full intensity”, so he’s still a few weeks away from game activity. Third baseman Giovanny Urshela (hamstring), on the other hand, is just a week away from possibly starting a minor-league rehab assignment. Left-hander Ryan Merritt (knee) has resumed throwing and is scheduled to pitch an extended spring game on Wednesday, while righty Cody Anderson (elbow) is finally back to throwing off a mound following Tommy John surgery in March of 2017; he’s “several week away” from potential game activity. Of these four players, only Anderson has a minor-league option remaining, meaning the Tribe will be facing a significant roster crunch in the near future. In other Tribe injury news, Lonnie Chisenhall has officially been placed on the 10-day DL. Tyler Naquin has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take his place (h/t Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal.
For the tribe, Merritt to the rotation and move out Tomlin to wherever including anyone who will take him. Anderson to the pen as others have minor league options. Urshela supplants Gonzalez who goes back down and Salazar to the pen if Clevinger continues to impress, which will send someone else down. However, there will be other injuries that will undoubtedly arise making this possibly all a non-issue
A little early in the morning to drunk type, no?
It’s never to early to do that
KarlK I read your thoughts loud and clear, and agree with them; maybe just some drunk reading on others part…
Chisenhall just landed on the DL, so the wheels are in motion. I know it was just his first start of the season, but if Tomlin logs any more train wrecks like the one he tossed against the Angels, I’m all for giving his spot to Merritt and tossing him overboard.
Agreed.
Angels pitching injuries already have me concerned. Shoes gonna be out awile it seems and now the same goes with JC. Plus Heaney already had an injury… I like our depth this year but we need our top guys to stay healthy
JC should be a reliever again. He’s not going to cut it in the rotation. Richards, Ohtani, Skaggs, shoemaker, and Heaney should be the 5 man. If they want to go 6 they really need to add another starter because Ramirez and Bridwell are huge question marks.
Ramirez was solid last year and then hurt his elbow and it pretty clearly hasn’t healed based on his velocity drop.
How are the A’s going to fill the offensive hole left with Boog going on the DL?