Scherzer cleared for ‘more aggressive’ baseball activities
TEMPE, Ariz. — Mad Max has been unleashed.
Texas Rangers GM Chris Young said Monday that right-hander Max Scherzer, now approaching his 13th week since back surgery, has been cleared to start “more aggressive baseball activities.” Scherzer saw a back specialist for a 12-week post-surgery check-in last week and the report was very positive.
“It was a very good report,” Young said.
Scherzer, who has been at home in Florida with his family for the last 10 days while awaiting the follow-up report, is expected to return to the Rangers camp in Surprise, Ariz., this week. The Rangers have listed June as a likely return timetable for Scherzer, who turns 40 in June.
He needs to build up his throwing program and then would need at least a month's worth of a spring training.
Scherzer isn't the only Rangers player progressing
on the injury front. Corey Seager (sports hernia surgery) started swinging a bat at lightly tossed baseballs on Monday. Macarthur grad Josh Jung (calf strain) was cleared to start taking at-bats in minor league games, though he still is not running. It does give Jung the chance to pile up at-bats while he gives the calf, which
he said was “70%” healed more time.
Judge expects to play in opener
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge expects to be ready for opening day on March 28 after an MRI exam of his abdomen.
Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen
during his swing's follow-through about a week ago and the 31-year-old has not taken on-field batting practice the past few days. He last played Sunday, striking out in both at-bats, and said he expects to resume swinging a bat this week.
“We ran tests. Everything comes back good,” Judge said Tuesday, one day after the MRI. “A little banged up. The most important thing is opening day, and I rather take some days now and be smart about it.”
Judge is “pretty sure” he will ready for the opener at Houston. He continues defensive drills and running.
New York might still be without its ace for the opener. Manager Aaron Boone said while the team still was awaiting tests on the right elbow of AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, it would be difficult for the ace to build up enough to start the opener.
Strawberry rests after heart attack
Former New York Mets and Yankees star Darryl Strawberry is recovering from a heart attack and is at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital.
Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Tuesday that Strawberry was stricken Monday, a day before the eight-time All-star's 62nd birthday.
Strawberry posted a photo of himself at the hospital on Instagram and wrote: “I am so happy and honored to report that all is well.”
Strawberry, who lives in O'fallon, Mo., is resting comfortably, Horwitz said. The Mets will retire Strawberry's No. 18 on June 1, after retiring Dwight Gooden's No. 16 on April 14. The pair led the team to the 1986 World Series title.
Torre picked as Hall’s vice chair
Joe Torre was elected vice chairman of baseball's Hall of Fame on Monday. The 83-year-old was elected to the Hall in 2014 and joined the board in 2023. The decision by the board, chaired by Jane Forbes Clark, filled a position that had been held by Joe Morgan for 20 years until his death in 2020.
An 18-year major leaguer and the 1971 National League MVP, Torre won 2,326 games as a manager, winning four World Series titles with the Yankees.