Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre to miss 2 weeks training due to calf strain
Texas Rangers’ new acquisition Adrian Beltre could miss two weeks of spring training due to a calf strain. The third baseman injured his muscle during his break at home before reporting to training camp; he had an MRI on Thursday which showed a Grade 1 strain
of the right calf muscle.
Doctors have advised him to completely isolate himself from baseball activities for at least a week to recover fully.
“Nobody wants to be hurt,” Beltre said. “The positive side would be that I would rather have it happen now than during the season. I have time.”
The 31-year old has had a healthy record as far as his fitness is concerned; he has been on the disabled list only twice in his 9-year career, both in 2009. He still managed to play 111 games in that season.
Beltre had a wonderful last season that earned him the second Silver Slugger Award of his career. He led Boston with batting average (.321) and 102 RBIs. He led the Major League in doubles (49) and was forth in the American League in batting average.
He inked a six-year, $96 million contract with the Texas Rangers on 5 January, 2011. His inclusion in the squad gave rise to Michael Young’s trade saga; the veteran had requested a trade after he was replaced from his starting job on the infield by Beltre.
Reports suggest that the recent injury to Beltre may urge team management to rethink their decision to make Young the Designated hitter. Rangers’ manager Ron Washington has denied these rumors, and said that the management is quite firm over Young’s role
as a DH.
“The finish line is April 1, not Feb. 25,” Washington said. “It's only spring training. It will get well.”
Belter was signed on the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998 with whom he had a career high 48-homer season. He joined the Seattle Mariners in 2005 with whom he played for five years, before inking a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.
In his 13-year career he has won two Silver Slugger awards, two Gold Glove awards and two Fielding Bible awards. He has a .275 Batting average with 278 Home runs, 1008 RBIs and 1889 Hits.
This is an important season for the 31-year
old, who will be keen to prove his worth to the club management, who preferred him over their star player.
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