Astros’ Gurriel out six weeks

Houston first baseman Yuli Gurriel had surgery on his left hand yesterday and is expected to miss the start of the season.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow says doctors removed the hook of the hamate bone, which was broken before Gurriel arrived at camp. Luhnow said he did not know the original cause of the fracture.

The 33-year-old Gurriel hit .299 with 18 homers and 75 RBI last year in his first full season in the majors. Gurriel appeared in one exhibition game this spring, homering in the second of his two at-bats.

Normal recovery time is six weeks, which means Gurriel will miss the first two weeks of the season. When he returns he will serve a five-game suspension for an inappropriate gesture made toward Los Angeles pitcher Yu Darvish during the World Series.

On the field, Jose Altuve went 3-for-3, George Springer had two hits and scored a run and Alex Bregman homered in a 4-2 split-squad loss to the Twins . ...

Logan Morrison and Minnesota finalized a $6.5 million, one-year deal, one that includes an $8 million club option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout for the former Tampa Bay slugger who hit 38 homers last year . ...

For the first time, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez hit back-to-back-to-back in the heart of the Yankees order. Sanchez hit a long home run and Stanton had two hits in a 9-6 loss to the Tigers in Tampa . ...

Lucas Duda agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year pact with the Royals, with a possible $1.3 million in bonuses. The 32-year-old hit .217 with 30 homers and 64 RBI last year for the New York Mets and Tampa Bay . ...

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Stephen Vogt is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks due to a strained right shoulder.