Ivan Rodriguez’s resurgence in Washington has been put on hold because of a back injury, with the Nationals placing the 39-year-old catcher on the disabled list today.
Signed to a two-year, $6 million contract that I criticized this offseason, Rodriguez hit .325 with a .351 on-base percentage and .439 slugging percentage in 132 plate appearances for his highest OPS since 2004 and threw out 4-of-11 steal attempts before leaving Saturday’s game with lower back soreness.
Jesus Flores’ long recovery from shoulder surgery is a big part of why the Nationals signed Rodriguez in the first place, so now they’re left with Wil Nieves as the starter and likely Triple-A call-up Jamie Burke is even unavailable for backup duties because of a knee injury. Nieves has started 166 games spread over seven seasons in the majors, but the 32-year-old is a career .233 hitter with a measly .573 OPS.
Phils’ Hoskins tears knee, expected to miss significant time
Dave Nelson/USA TODAY Sports
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.
The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined.
Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions.
He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Sooner after, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off of the field.
Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
The injury was another blow for the Phillies, who will be without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for another few weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow. And slugger Bryce Harper isn’t expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.