Gattis says recovery is going well
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Wearing comfy clothes, Evan Gattis arrived at Astros camp on Wednesday with one noticeable accessory: a medical device with a narrow tube protruding from the lower left side of his abdomen.
“It’s just a drain,” Gattis said. “It’s to prevent a hematoma (collection of blood).”
Eight days after surgery to repair a sports hernia that leaves his openingday availability in question, the designated hitter said he’s doing well in recovery. His exercise includes a lot of walking in different directions and also some swings with a PVC pipe or stick.
Gattis’ recovery calls for four to six weeks, which means even if he plays in Grapefruit League games, he’ll be behind on the number of at-bats everyday players receive to ramp up for the season. The 29-year-old didn’t make any prediction on Wednesday about whether he’d ready.
“I don’t want to limit myself on the timeline,” Gattis said. “I guess I could be hitting off a tee or doing light baseball activity, light throwing, in three weeks or sooner.”
The timing of the operation is brutal for Gattis because it came so close to spring training.
Gattis did what he called “very light” catching drills this offseason and also tried to drop weight, but he didn’t identify one activity or another as the culprit.
On Tuesday, Gattis was in Arizona, where he and the Astros avoided an arbitration hearing at the last minute, settling on a contract that pays Gattis at least $3.4 million this year — and as much as $8.5 million if a team option for 2017 is picked up.
“Very happy with the outcome,” Gattis said. “Both sides did good.”
Prospects get early workout
The first unofficial workout with the big dogs watching — including manager A.J. Hinch, bench coach Trey Hillman and hitting coach Dave Hudgens— wasa Wednesday morning batting practice and infield session featuring the next wave of Astros prospects.
Shortstop Alex Bregman, first base man Tyler White, third baseman Colin Moran, catchers Alfredo Gonzalez and Max Stassi, and outfielder Derek Fisher took hacks on one of the back fields at Osceola County Stadium. Bregman, Moran and White took grounders at their respective positions afterward.
“It’s nice to have the guys that showup early get a little work in,” Hinch said. “It’s always exciting the first couple days — lay eyes on some of the younger prospects that our minor league staff and development people have told us about. And now they’ll be in camp with us. There’s no shortage of work. And these guys are built to get better, and they’re getting their first taste to be around the major league operation.”
Braves mulling move to beach
The more teams near West Palm Beach the merrier for Astros manager A.J. Hinch.
On Wednesday, the Palm Beach Post reported the Braves have a lobbyist in Palm Beach County, per team president John Schuerholz, who said the team wants to move to either coast of Florida, where teams are starting to cluster.
That could put the Braves close to the Astros, Nationals and others on Florida’s east side.
“I think one of the advantages we look to have down there (at the new complex) is having more teams around us,” Hinch said Wednesday, who cited ease of travel and easing the grind of spring training. “In a perfect spring-training atmosphere, you have a number of teams within that 30-mile threshold that makes for smooth and efficient work.”
When the Astros and Nationals move to their new shared facility in West Palm Beach, the Braves and Tigers will be left with lengthy travel to play their Grapefruit League games. Both the Braves and Tigers are presently near the Astros geographically, in Lake Buena Vista and Lakeland, respectively — but they’ll be much more isolated soon. The Astros and Nats are hoping to open their doors next spring.
Moving the Braves closer to the Astros and Nats could ease logistics for more than just three clubs. The Astros and Nationals are already going to be in close proximity to the Mets (Port St. Lucie) and the Marlins and Cardinals ( Jupiter).
Clemens, Bagwell Biggio to visit
Roger Clemens is slated to visit Astros camp next week as the team begins hitting live batting practice around Feb. 22. Jeff Bagwell is to be an instructor for a second straight year and will visit during the first weekend once games start in the first week of March.
Craig Biggio is to visit in mid-March, working with both the major and minor leaguers. Others may come, too.