D-backs 1B Christian Walker to be patient with ‘mild’ oblique strain
Apr 13, 2021, 1:20 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker, left, scores a run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart waits for a possible throw to home plate during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — A “mild” oblique strain that put Christian Walker on the 10-day injured list Monday has the Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman hopeful for a quick recovery.
Walker said Tuesday he first felt a tweaked oblique during a check swing in a game. That was a few days before he was placed on the IL.
The tightness went away at one point but then got more intense over a day’s period, which led to the D-backs shutting Walker down.
He hopes that he can return within a few weeks.
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“Ten to 14 days is where we have our eyes about now,” Walker said on a Zoom call. “I think more on the short-term timeline. We’re going to reevaluate at the end of this week and hopefully start the next phase of this process (to get) back.”
Walker started all 10 of the Diamondbacks’ games before Monday against the Oakland Athletics, when he was replaced at first by usual third-base starter Asdrubal Cabrera.
Wyatt Mathisen took over at first mid-game on Monday in a loss to Oakland and started on Tuesday for the second game of the series at Chase Field.
Walker is hitting .179 with one home run, a double, three RBIs and 10 strikeouts to four walks so far this year.
The first baseman said he will judge his injury recovery by how little it affects his at-bats.
“I don’t want to change my swing because of how my body feels,” he said. “I think it should go the other way. I need to get my body to a place where it can embrace my swing and support my swing.”
