According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com “the situation is not good” with Josh Hamilton’s bruised left rib cage and the MVP candidate “is not close to returning” from the injury suffered while crashing into the outfield wall Saturday.
X-rays showed no structural damage, but Hamilton has yet to swing a bat and told Sullivan that any kind of movement remains painful. Thanks to their 7.5-game cushion in the AL West the Rangers can afford to be very cautious with Hamilton, particularly since they no longer have much chance to claim homefield advantage in the ALDS.
Hamilton leads the league with a .361 batting average and .635 slugging percentage while ranking second to only Miguel Cabrera in both on-base percentage (.414) and OPS (1.049).
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.