Rasmus on DL with ear issue; return in doubt
The ear condition with which Colby Rasmus has dealt for about a month landed the Astros outfielder on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and casts doubt on the rest of his season.
Rasmus, officially placed on the DL with a cyst in his right ear, was diagnosed early last week with a cholesteatoma, an abnormal growth behind the eardrum. The condition requires surgery, which Rasmus said last week he planned to undergo as soon as the season ends.
More clarity on Rasmus’ situation should come after he visits a specialist this week in Houston while the Astros are on their seven-game trip to Minnesota and Toronto. He said he recently has experienced vertigo and dizziness. Flying had become an issue.
“I’m hoping that I won’t be out too long and can get back to playing at 100 percent to help this team,” he said. “I haven’t been doing quite as well as I would like or the team would like, so I feel that I need to do something to try to get it right. I haven’t been myself.”
Rasmus, 29, described his level of confidence he would return before season’s end as “very high.” He also, however, acknowledged the possibility he could require the surgery before the offseason.
“It’s possible,” he said. “But as of right now, I’m just trying to do some of the physical therapy things for vertigo and whatnot to try to get that right.”
The Astros, who recalled outfielder Tony Kemp from Class AAA to fill Rasmus’ roster spot, are seeking more production from their struggling lineup anywhere they can get it. It wasn’t coming from Rasmus, who after a torrid April struggled to the point of becoming one of the least productive everyday players in the majors.
Rasmus’ .211 batting average ranked worst in the American League and second-worst in the majors among 157 qualified hitters entering Sunday’s games. A .638 OPS ranked fifth-worst in the league.
A free agent at season’s end, Rasmus wasn’t helping himself or the Astros by attempting to play through his injury. He has merely three hits in his last 66 at-bats. His 29.3 strikeout rate is fourth worst in the AL.
“I plan on being back, and I want to come back and play like myself and do what I can do to help this team,” he said. “It’s not fair to the team that I’ve been going through this and trying to push and not playing quite as well as I could when somebody else could step in and do (more).”
Missing time when the reeling Astros are pushing for a playoff spot is “more frustrating than you know,” Rasmus said.
“I hate it, especially at this time. I was hungry to get back to the playoffs this year, especially with how much fun we had last year.
“Things happen for a reason, so I’m going to try not to get down on myself or down on the situation, stay positive, and hope that I can get back and at least play some good baseball at the end.”
Odds and ends
Ken Giles on Sunday became the third pitcher since 1913 to record six strikeouts in less than two innings (12⁄3). Tim Wakefield and Steve Kline accomplished the feat a week apart from each other in August 1999. … The Astros’ 15 extrainning games are the most in the American League and second in the majors behind the Braves (16). …
Although eligible for activation this week, Luis Valbuena will require more than the 15-day minimum on the disabled list. Valbuena has yet to run or resume baseball activities since straining his right hamstring July 26, according to Astros manager A.J. Hinch .… Righthander Luke Gregerson (oblique strain) played catch Sunday for the first time since going on the disabled list Tuesday. Throwing off a mound will be a more indicative test of when he can return, but he is accompanying the team on its road trip. …
Tyler White is dealing with left knee inflammation. He didn’t play Saturday and struck out as a pinch hitter Sunday. … Carlos Gomez was out of the lineup with an unspecified illness but pinch-ran in the ninth and scored the run that sent the game to extra innings. …
Yulieski Gurriel drove in five runs with a grand slam and double in his final Class A game Sunday night. Gurriel, who hit .429 (6-for-14) in his four games for Lancaster, will join Class AA Corpus Christi for the start of its homestand Tuesday. The Aug. 16-17 home dates against the Cardinals remain the likeliest series for Gurriel’s major league debut. … Outfield prospect Derek Fisher was promoted to Class AAA Fresno from Class AA Corpus Christi. Fisher, the 37th pick in the 2014 draft, batted .245 with 16 home runs and an .804 OPS in 371 at-bats in Class AA. Baseball America last month ranked him as the industry’ 94th-best prospect.