Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Mariners’ Cruz lands on 10-day DL with ankle sprain
SAN FRANCISCO » The Seattle Mariners have placed designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the 10-day disabled list after he suffered a sprained right ankle in the season-opening series against Cleveland.
Seattle made the move Tuesday before beginning a two-game series in San Francisco where Cruz was unlikely to play. The move was retroactive to April 1. The Mariners recalled utility player Taylor Motter to take Cruz’s spot on the roster. Daniel Vogelbach is likely to get the majority of at-bats at designated hitter while Cruz is out.
Cruz started the season with two homers in his first six at-bats, but slipped on the dugout steps following a two-run homer in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game against Cleveland. Xrays were negative.
Cruz is the fourth Seattle starter on the disabled list, joining catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Ben Gamel and pitcher Erasmo Ramirez.
Yankees’ Ellsbury hurts hip in another setback
TAMPA, FLA. » Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury hurt a hip in his comeback from an oblique injury, a setback that means Aaron Hicks is likely to return from the disabled list first.
New York manager Aaron Boone disclosed Ellsbury’s latest malady on Tuesday. The 34-year-old outfielder did not play in any exhibition games from March 1 until March 24 and finished spring training 1 for 14.
“It’s going to cost him a couple days here,” Boone said. “Hopefully it’s something small and not a big deal and not a huge setback, but shut down for a couple days.”
Ellsbury is projected as a backup outfielder after losing the starting center field job to Hicks last season.
Ellsbury is guaranteed $21,142,857 in each of the next three seasons as part of a $153 million, seven-year contract that includes a $21 million team option for 2021 with a $5 million buyout.
He hit .264 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 112 games last season. He was sidelined from May 24 until June 26 after sustaining a concussion against the outfield wall while making a spectacular catch to rob Kansas City’s Alcides Escobar.
Hicks went on the disabled list Friday, a day after straining his right ribcage in the opener. Hicks is eligible to be activated April 9.
Cards’ Gyorko to DL
MILWAUKEE » The St. Louis Cardinals placed Jedd Gyorko on the 10-day disabled list and recalled prospect Harrison Bader from Triple-A before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Gyorko left Monday’s game in the seventh inning with a strained right hamstring. Greg Garcia will fill in at third base.
Gyorko batted .272 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs but missed 17 games in early September because of the same injury.
“That heightened our concern,” manager Mike Matheny said. “But it was pretty clear when we came off the field that it would take a little time. How much time, we’re not sure.”
Bader is an outfielder who was named the Cardinals’ minor league player of the year last season. He had been assigned to Memphis in the Pacific Coast League, though the Triple-A season has yet to begin. Bader batted .235 with three home runs in 32 games with St. Louis last season after hitting .283 with 20 homers at Memphis.
“He was swinging the bat as well as anybody,” Matheny said. “He had a good enough swing to make the club but (the decision) was more about flexibility than anything else.
“We wanted him to be ready in case something happened.
Matheny also said that injured pitcher Adam Wainwright worked out Tuesday without issue. The righthander is coming back from a hamstring injury and set to come off the DL on Thursday for the home opener against Arizona.