Arizona Diamondbacks looking to get players healthy in April
The Arizona Diamondbacks have just one game under their belts for the 2013 season, and they did “OK” for not having a few of their starting players in the lineup.
They came away with a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night and did so without Adam Eaton, Cody Ross, Willie Bloomquist and Didi Gregorius.
Before Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals, manager Kirk Gibson gave an injury update.
New shortstop Didi Gregorius has been out with an elbow injury since early spring and has been limited to hitting and fielding, but no throwing.
“[Gregorius]’s going to be hopefully playing in a game April 15th, in the field,” Gibson said. “He’s going to be in Reno when they start their season on the 4th. They don’t have the DH there the first weekend so he could possibly pinch-hit.
“Then he’ll go to Salt Lake City and DH and after that we’re hoping that he could play five innings in a game. [Wednesday] he’s throwing across the diamond for real with ground balls and we’re hoping he can play a game, full-go, on the 15th.”
Gregorius was impressive at the plate during spring training, batting .423 in 26 at-bats as a designated hitter or pinch-hitter. He could be in the majors sooner rather than later if he remains healthy.
As for outfielder Cody Ross, who has been sidelined since March 3rd with a calf issue, the D-backs decided to start Ross on the disabled list rather than rush him back.
“Cody Ross probably got 15 or so at bats out there [Tuesday] in a simulated game. He’s swinging the bat really good. He’s got probably 60 at-bats,” Gibson said. “Swinging the bat really good, pretty smart. We’ve talked about a lot of things, he’s implemented them. As soon as that arm is ready to go, he’ll step right in there and be ready to play very effectively.”
There was no update from the Diamondbacks on outfielder Adam Eaton or infielder Willie Bloomquist. Both players have a ways to go in their respective rehab situations.
Eaton is out with a UCL sprain in his left elbow. The MRI revealed a very small tear in the fibers around the UCL. It’s considered a grade one strain.
Bloomquist suffered a grade two strain of his right oblique during an at-bat the last week of spring training.
Gibson said that Bloomquist picked up a rock and threw it over the wall in his backyard and felt his right side grab when he did it. Needless to say, he might be out longer than the 15-day DL allows.
