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Lots of big updates from the injury front:
Cause for Concern
- David Wright has returned to Mets camp this morning with a more specific diagnosis for his abdominal injury. Adam Rubin of ESPN tweets that Wright tore a rectus abdominis muscle (essentially, a six-pack muscle) in his left side. Rubin adds in a follow-up tweet that Wright believes "Opening Day is not in jeopardy in [my] mind". Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post offers a more sobering perspective, pointing out that the same injury forced Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman into surgery and a 60 game absence last year.
- Royals catcher of the future Salvador Perez was pulled from yesterday's game after one inning because of an unknown injury to his knee. Perez underwent an MRI after the game then traveled to Kansas City this morning, ESPN reports. Little to nothing is known about the injury--not even which knee he injured--a fact that has left manager Ned Yost concerned. The Royals signed Perez (he of the 158 career PAs) to a 5-year, $7 million contract on February 27.
- Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki this morning that he had no timetable for his return from an achilles tear and post-surgery infection. Teammate Jimmy Rollins gave ESPN's Jayson Stark an incredibly glim prediction about Howard, stating he might miss the entire season:
"If you ask me, with this infection, I don’t know if he’s going to play this year"
- Rangers center fielder Craig Gentry sprained his left wrist yesterday diving for a flyball, reports Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram. The sprain is considered to be mild but there is currently no timetable for his return. He is vaguely listed as day-to-day. If you're into schaudenfraude, you can watch the video here.
- An MRI of Greg Dobbs' left leg on Tuesday revealed a partial tear of his hamstring, Joe Frisaro reports. The Marlins backup infielder is expected to miss at least a week of games.
On the Mend
- Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis made his spring debut this afternoon against the Pirates, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN. Markakis DHed and batted third in his first start back from the abdominal surgery he underwent in January.
- Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller could make his spring debut as early as Friday, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Cafardo adds tht Miller, who is recovering from elbow soreness, said he threw a "great" bullpen yesterday.
- Angels DH/1B Kendrys Morales did not work out on Tuesday because of tightness in his right calf (not the bad leg), reports Marcia C. Smith of the OC Register. Morales is returning from a fractured left ankle suffered in May 2010. Manager Mike Scioscia said the tightness is not cause for alarm, just general soreness from running.
- Denard Span and Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who have been nursing a stiff neck and a strained pinkie, respectively, are back at the top of the lineup today to face the Phillies, tweets Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.