Rangers’ Calhoun likely to miss opener
Willie Calhoun is expected to miss the start of the season because of a hip strain, a setback for the Texas Rangers left fielder who was ready to play after recovering from a broken jaw sustained in a spring training game more than four months ago.
“Just given the calendar, there’s a good chance he’ll miss a little bit of time right at the beginning. I’m hopeful it won’t be more than a few days or a week,” general manager Jon Daniels said Wednesday.
Calhoun exited an intrasquad game Monday night because of a sore hip, and an MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain in a small muscle. Daniels said that muscle needs enough time to properly heal or Calhoun would be at risk of missing extended time.
So after being on track to not miss any regular-season games because of the broken jaw, Calhoun could now start the season on the injured list because of the hip issue. The Rangers open their pandemic-delayed 60game season July 24 at home against Colorado.
“He could probably get out there and give you a good atbat,” Daniels said. “It’s just the concern, does he put himself at risk coming out of the box or running the bases, where it’s just the adrenaline and wanting to compete, and not allow himself to kind of protect that muscle.”
The Rangers sounded more hopeful about Robinson Chirinos after he got hurt in that same intrasquad game Monday, with Daniels expressing optimism that the veteran catcher would avoid the injured list. Chirinos rolled his right ankle while taking a throw when teammate Scott Heineman hit him while sliding into the plate.
Manager Chris Woodward said Chirinos was walking “pretty normal” on Wednesday.
“We’re still kind of hopeful on that end,” Woodward said. “We may have dodged a bullet there. We’ll take it day by day.“
Chirinos returned as a free agent to Texas, where he played from 2013-18, after playing last season for the AL champion Houston Astros.
Rizzo, degrom both nursing bad backs
Opening day is next week, and there is some unease for New York Mets ace Jacob degrom and Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo because of back issues.
The Mets sent degrom for an MRI on Wednesday after the right-hander pitched just one inning in a summer camp appearance due to back tightness. The test showed nothing to be concerned about, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no immediate announcement on degrom’s medical condition was planned.
An MRI of Rizzo on Tuesday showed rib-head inflammation on his left side that is causing back spasms — a condition he has dealt with before in his career.
The loss of degrom or Rizzo for an extended period would be a huge blow for either of their teams — especially in a shortened 60-game season.
Odds and ends
Right fielder Aaron Judge homered off James Paxton when the slugger returned to the New York Yankees’ intrasquad lineup Wednesday after missing five days due to a stiff neck. Giancarlo Stanton also homered against Paxton in the first inning. … New York remains unsure whether closer Aroldis Chapman and second baseman DJ Lemaheiu will be available for the opening. Both have been absent from training following positive tests for COVID-19. … The Boston Red Sox have placed left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez, Josh Taylor, and Darwinzon Hernandez on the injured list while they recover from COVID-19. Rodriguez won 19 games last year and had been the team’s likely opening day starter.