TODAY:Ā Andrus will not need surgery but will miss approximately six to eight weeks of time, the club announced. It is not fully clear whether that estimate includes any anticipated time spent on a rehab assignment, though it seems the organization can anticipate that its regular shortstop will be back in the majors at some point in the month of June.
YESTERDAY, 11:35pm: The Rangers issued a press release on Andrus’ injury, indicating that initial X-rays “indicate the probability of a fracture in the elbow.” He’s set to undergo additional X-rays and a CT scan tomorrow, and his elbow has been placed in a splint for the time being.
10:57pm: Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has been diagnosed with a fracture in his right elbow, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Andrus was hit by a pitch late in Wednesday’s contest, and post-game X-rays revealed the break. The extent of the fracture hasn’t been revealed, though it seems clear that a DL stint for Andrus is likely on the horizon. Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Andrus will have more tests performed tomorrow and notes that a DL trip would, remarkably, be the first of the shortstop’s career.
Obviously, the news comes as a blow to a Rangers club that has gotten off to a dreadful 4-10 start to the 2018 season and is currently sporting baseball’s second-worst run differential at -33. The 29-year-old Andrus was off to a torrid, hitting .327/.426/.500 with a pair of homers and three doubles through his first 61 plate appearancesĆĀĆĀ as he looked to recreate last season’s career year at the plate.
Andrus is the latest in a recent string of DL placements for a Rangers club that has also lost Delino DeShields, Rougned Odor and Doug Fister to the disabled list since Opening Day. With both Odor and Andrus on the sidelines, former No. 1 overall prospect Jurickson Profar seems likely to at last be ticketed for regular at-bats with the Rangers for the foreseeable future. Catcher/infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa is already with the big league club and has experience at second base, and the Rangers also have March trade pickup Eliezer Alvarez on the 40-man roster, though he has only limited experience above A-ball. Versatile Hanser Alberto in Triple-A Round Rock, but he’ll need to be re-added to the 40-man roster after previously being non-tendered and re-signed to a minor league deal.
One other scenario that could play out would be a move of Drew Robinson from the outfield to the infield, as he comes with experience in both regards at the minor league level. Shifting Profar to shortstop and Robinson to second base could then open the door for top prospect Willie Calhoun to return as a left fielder, although that alignment would likely force Ryan Rua into center field, where he’s played just 14 big league innings. Carlos Tocci remains an option in center as well, though as a Rule 5 pick, asking him to take on regular center field work would be a lot.
Certainly, the timing of the injury is brutal for Andrus from a personal standpoint as well. The shortstop’s eight-year, $120MM deal was viewed for several seasons as a misstep by the front office, but Andrus’ sensational 2017 season and strong start to the 2018 campaign suddenly made the possibility of him exercising an opt-out clause after the season look entirely possible.
Andrus has $58MM guaranteed to him over the next four seasons, but with a repeat of his 2017 season he’d almost certainly elect to test the open market in search of a lengthier, more lucrative contract. If he’s able to return in the near future, that may still be the case, but the length of his absence and the degree to which he is able to bounce back from the injury will now carry added significance with the possibility of free agency looming.
upandin
When it rains….
papa fraunch
It pours
CursedRangers
Not that it changes the Rangers outcome for this season – they were going to be horrific regardless. However as a fan itās making what was going to be a tough season that much rougher. Itās been hard watching them play.
Hope he recovers quickly. Wonder if this will have any impact on his decision to opt out of his contract or to stay.
brucewayne
Elvis has left the field !
ThePriceWasRight
no kidding. to start the year the big question was where would Profar get a chance to play. 2 weeks later it’s “What position can Profar not play because we may need him to play almost anywhere.”
hopefully this leads to a Calhoun call up soon. I know he’s not a as but they can move Robinson to the infield and finally give Willie a chance. defense or not, this team can barely score 3 runs and have 3 regulars out. offense needs to be addressed ASAP.
9lives
Can’t catch a break.
fartymorono
Well… technically they just did. Poor dude. That was so cringe worthy. Hope he recovers ASAP. Canāt believe some of the comments on here. āAngels are trashā āScrew the Angelsā.
Middleton definitely didnāt do that on purpose. Itās baseball. Stuff like that happens. Itās unfortunate. Anyone that wants players of the opposing team to get injured is a retard.
RangersFanCD19
Screw the angels
xkeiserx24
Mike trout really must be god… hit trout then have your (arguably) best player break his elbow
sufferforsnakes
Trout is not a god.
jbigz12
Thanks for clearing that up for us.
3rdStrikeLooking
Thanks to both of you for wasting comment board space.
baseballfan27
hit Mike trout. wait didnt that already happen the inning before Andrus did. I why would you wish harm on any player.
RangersFanCD19
Nobody was wishing harm on Trout
He was saying wow the Rangers hit Trout and then they turned around and broke Elvis’s arm
Just wish our guy didn’t get hurt
Oh and the angels are trash
cakirby
Not only was it not intentional, but Andrus was in a check swing, causing his elbow to go into the ball. Just really unlucky.
Side note for the troll: trash just swept your team easily.
jdgoat
Ya you need to reread that
HalosHeavenJJ
Unfortunate but completely not intentional.
Hopefully he makes a full recovery.
padnastikador
Even though it definitely wasn’t intentional, they’ll still drill an Angel because of the injury. I know it doesn’t make sense, it’s just what I expect.
jdgoat
Theyāll wait until the last inning they play the Angels because thatās how the Rangers role
padnastikador
Toronto plays Texas every year. Plenty of chances to drill Odor. There’s no statute of limitations on baseball’s unwritten rules. You won’t hear Rangers fans whining about how it’s been two years.
jdgoat
Rangers fans whine about a bat flip
padnastikador
NOT ANYMORE! Bat flips get you fat lips!
jdgoat
No, they donāt. They get you plenty of retweets. They apparently get you pitches in the ribs though if you do it against the Texas Rangers, since theyāre emotionally fragile
Breezy
You seem extra butthurt about this.
Breezy
Not to mention it was the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs when he came to the plate…
madmanTX
Retaliation knows no limits.
passed_balls
That was NOT retaliation. Bad luck… donāt overthink it
Catfish Beaver
Willie Calhoun has more experience at 2nd than Ryan Rua in Center. Profar to SS Calhoun to 2B.
stymeedone
Doesnt matter where you put Profar. This is just one more opportunity for him to not live up to his earlier hype.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Youāve never seen Calhoun at 2nd have you? Thereās a reason the Dodgers eventually and the rangers have scrapped that idea. In all honesty if he was at least playable there he never would have been traded. The fact that heās not even below average, but absolutely unplayable as a mlb 2b. I love the kids bat, but heās limited to LF/DH.
madmanTX
You people saying it was not intentional don’t know that. It sure seems funny though since it came at the end of a game with 3 other hit batters (including Trout just at the top of the inning) and retaliation was still on the menu. You Angels fans would be screaming too if Trout had suffering a bone break from a pitch that sure looked suspiciously like it was intentional.
jdgoat
He check swung… if it was intentional he wouldāve got it in the ribs
mlb1225
I don’t feel it was an intentional HBP, but like JDGoat said, he check swung. It looks like they just wanted to back him off the plate some, but when he swung, his elbow got hit.
angels fan 3
Why would they want to load the bases ?
HalosHeavenJJ
Anyone who understands baseball knows you donāt intentionally load the bases and give your opponent a chance to come back.
Middleton was getting tired and missing high on several pitches. Andrus kind of turned into one.
Reverse the roles and knowledgeable fans say the same thing.
hossmandu
Suspiciously intentional? How, please explain. Ball was barely 3 inches inside, Andrus actually check swung!
And BTW, I wouldn’t be screaming if Mike dove in on a fastball just above the belt 3 inches off the plate because I’d be smart enough to know that it wasn’t intentional. Two outs, two on, five run lead in the ninth, pitcher was gassed (37 pitches is the most Middleton has EVER thrown in MLB game). Good grief.
passed_balls
Exactly… blame the Sciosciapath for not knowing how to run a bullpen. Classic.
goat
Maybe now JD will see the wisdom of shedding as many big contracts as possible and start the build for 2020 and beyond. We were going to be dreadful anyway, at least get rid of choo’s contract and allow Hamels and Beltre to compete for a ring somewhere.
brood550
They could always put Calhoun at 2b. He’s not the greatest fielder which is why he plays LF now but to help the alignment he could slip in at 2b. Just an option, not a great one but most positional options here kind of suck.
srdiaz1972
Rangers will sign Erick Aybar to fill the void at SS
3rdStrikeLooking
Thanks to both of you for wasting comment board space.
southi
I’d have to think that a fracture to an elbow would be very troublesome to fully recover from during the season. Am I wrong to expect him to be out at least several weeks (and possibly diminished)?
reflect
Technically, you cannot fracture an elbow because an elbow is a joint, not a bone. I would assume they mean to say that he fractured his ulnar bone (forearm bone) in the area that runs over the elbow joint.
Just some pointless information in case like one person cares or something.
Naqamel
If the Tigers had a good General Manager I’d suggest trying to offload Jose Iglesias to the Rangers right now. Move Machado to SS, and/or see if Niko Goodrum can continue to produce a little, or even see if this Lugo kid has anything.
padnastikador
Rangers are in the same boat as the Tigers. They’re not going to give up anything of value to try and compete in an obvious rebuilding year.
jorge78
Time for Profar to step up…..
GarryHarris
Jose Iglesias would fit on both the Rangers and Red Sox now but, I doubt he gets moved until after the All Star break to another contender.