TODAY: 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 appearancesÃÂ 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.
When it rains….
It pours
Not that it changes the Rangers outcome for this season – they were going to be horrific regardless. However as a fan it’s making what was going to be a tough season that much rougher. It’s 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.
Elvis has left the field !
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.
Can’t catch a break.
Well… technically they just did. Poor dude. That was so cringe worthy. Hope he recovers ASAP. Can’t believe some of the comments on here. “Angels are trash” “Screw the Angels”.
Middleton definitely didn’t do that on purpose. It’s baseball. Stuff like that happens. It’s unfortunate. Anyone that wants players of the opposing team to get injured is a retard.
Screw the angels
Mike trout really must be god… hit trout then have your (arguably) best player break his elbow
Trout is not a god.
Thanks for clearing that up for us.
Thanks to both of you for wasting comment board space.
hit Mike trout. wait didnt that already happen the inning before Andrus did. I why would you wish harm on any player.
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
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.
Ya you need to reread that
Unfortunate but completely not intentional.
Hopefully he makes a full recovery.
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.
They’ll wait until the last inning they play the Angels because that’s how the Rangers role
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.
Rangers fans whine about a bat flip
NOT ANYMORE! Bat flips get you fat lips!
No, they don’t. They get you plenty of retweets. They apparently get you pitches in the ribs though if you do it against the Texas Rangers, since they’re emotionally fragile
You seem extra butthurt about this.
Not to mention it was the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs when he came to the plate…
Retaliation knows no limits.
That was NOT retaliation. Bad luck… don’t overthink it
Willie Calhoun has more experience at 2nd than Ryan Rua in Center. Profar to SS Calhoun to 2B.
Doesnt matter where you put Profar. This is just one more opportunity for him to not live up to his earlier hype.
You’ve never seen Calhoun at 2nd have you? There’s 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 he’s not even below average, but absolutely unplayable as a mlb 2b. I love the kids bat, but he’s limited to LF/DH.
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.
He check swung… if it was intentional he would’ve got it in the ribs
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.
Why would they want to load the bases ?
Anyone who understands baseball knows you don’t 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.
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.
Exactly… blame the Sciosciapath for not knowing how to run a bullpen. Classic.
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.
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.
Rangers will sign Erick Aybar to fill the void at SS
Thanks to both of you for wasting comment board space.
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)?
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.
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.
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.
Time for Profar to step up…..
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.