Marcus Semien went 1-for-4 in the Rangers’ 8-2 loss to the Marlins yesterday, marking his return to the lineup after sitting out Texas’ previous game. While off-days aren’t normally worth mention, Semien’s absence from Wednesday’s lineup ended a streak of 349 starts for the star second baseman, and it represented only his ninth missed game since the start of the 2019 season. The decision was made since Semien is dealing with a compressed nerve in his neck, as he told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News and other reporters yesterday, and the hope is that resting both Wednesday and Thursday (when the Rangers didn’t have a game) will help get Semien back on track.
“I could have missed more time, but I’m trying to figure out how to fight through it,” Semien said. “It feels better after a day off and another day of rest. I’m happy about that. I just want to come back strong.”
The injury stems from a collision between Semien and Adolis Garcia while the two were chasing the same fly ball on May 18. Semien has hit only .135/.200/.189 over 40 plate appearances in the nine games since the collision, and also made three errors in the field. As Grant notes, Semien’s career splits indicate that he is generally a better hitter anyway later in the season, though this neck issue adds an unwelcome obstacle for a Texas club that has struggled to a 27-30 record in its defense of last year’s World Series championship.
More from around the AL West…
- Speaking of lingering injuries, Nolan Schanuel was a late scratch from the Angels’ lineup yesterday due to left thumb soreness. Manager Ron Washington told MLB.com and other media that Schanuel has been bothered by his thumb for an unspecified period of time, which could explain the first baseman’s underwhelming .224/.294/.328 slash line through 206 plate appearances. It has still been less than a year since Schanuel was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft, and his 2024 numbers have been a tough follow-up to his solid .275/.402/.330 mark over 132 PA last season, after the Angels fast-tracked him to the majors after just 97 minor league PA.
- Lucas Erceg was placed on the Athletics’ 15-day injured list yesterday with what officially termed a forearm strain, and manager Mark Kotsay didn’t give reporters (including MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos) a timetable on when the reliever might be ready to return to action. However, it does seem like Erceg’s injury might be of the relatively minor variety, as Kotsay indicated that Erceg might be able to start throwing “sooner than later.” That’s certainly good news considering the ominous nature of forearm injuries, so it seems like Erceg could soon resume set-up duties in front of star rookie closer Mason Miller. Erceg has a 2.86 ERA over 22 relief innings, with a set of impressive Statcast metrics that include a superb 31% strikeout rate and 28% hard-hit ball rate.
Saw “AL West Notes” before seeing the rest of the headline so immediately assumed it was going to be news about another new Mike Trout injury. Fragile guy.
Just stay banned
Just stay insignificant and unimportant and unimpressive.
Schanuel is Bobby Dalbec with none of the pop
Or he’s Zach Pop with none of the Dalbec.
Or he’s Howie Nunn with Pop of the Dalbec.
Really strange guy to pay full slot price and draft so high.
And if he was going to change his approach, which he obviously has, then why not let him change his approach in the minor leagues?
Oh and Bobby Dalbec was drafted in the 4th round, because that’s what you do with no power first baseman who can’t run. You draft them in the 4th round with a 650,000 signing bonus.
Not with the 11th pick and a 5 million dollar + signing bonus.
It’s a really dumb organization and I can’t wait for Perry to be fired.
It’s not just the GM. As long as Moreno owns the team, it’s going to be dysfunctional.
So Moreno is drafting these guys?
And who cares? Perry obviously can’t do his job under Moreno. So what’s the point of keeping him around.
I cant wait till they both are gone, but Perry has a contract expiration date, so I can’t wait until his contract is not renewed. The team is worse off than it was four years ago. Moreno was here four years ago, Perry has to go.
Halo11shill busy deflecting blame from Moreno as usual.
It seemed very strange at the time. I think he’ll be okay, but much like Henry Davis, you’re hoping for more than okay.
And, once again, why are they paying prospect to learn how to hit in the pros, instead of the minors? The upside is that he will take 2-3 years to become an average+ player, and if they get lucky, he will be an AS by the time he is a free agent.
Joe, Davis is high upside, and I would never compare a number one pick to the 11th.
Since it is so hard to groom talent, I prefer the high upside players at 11.
Perry has had the highest picks in 30 years. I don’t think he’s done well, and training these guys at the major league level is insane.
Dalbec has no more pop. All he has now is “whoosh”
On Lucas Erceg I remember a quote from the movie Rounders… “I like the kid Abe”.
But forearm tightness could lead to the dreaded TJ surgery.
I believe it’s gripping the ball so hard for spin rate.