Gregory Santos back on mound for the Mariners. Their new reliever may not be ready for season opener
Newly acquired Seattle Mariners reliever Gregory Santos threw a light bullpen session Friday, his first since experiencing right lat soreness after throwing off a mound at the the start of spring training three weeks ago.
Jerry Dipoto, the team’s president of baseball operations, has indicated that Santos won’t be ready for opening day in three weeks but should pitch in April. Santos had been playing catch the past week.
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The Mariners got the hard-throwing 24-year-old Dominican from the White Sox in a trade at the beginning of February. Santos had a 3.39 ERA with five saves in 60 appearances last year in his rookie season with Chicago. He pitched in five games combined the previous two seasons for San Francisco.
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LOWE STRAIN
Gold Glove first baseman Nathaniel Lowe is the latest starting infielder for the World Series champion Texas Rangers to be sidelined because of injury.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Lowe is dealing with a right oblique strain. The initial timeline for recovery is three to four weeks, and the March 28 opener is less than three weeks away. Lowe, who avoided arbitration with a $7.5 million deal, has played in all but 11 games for the Rangers over the past three seasons.
World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager had sports hernia surgery Jan. 30, and is expected to miss most of spring training, though there is hope that he could play in Arizona before the end of camp.
All-Star third baseman Josh Jung strained his left calf at the start of camp. He has resumed baseball activity, but hasn’t played in any Cactus League games.
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BANGED-UP NOOTBAAR
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar has two nondisplaced rib fractures from falling into a wall when trying to make a twisting, turning catch in a spring training game. It is unclear whether he will be ready for the season opener March 28.
John Mozeliak, the team’s president of baseball operations, said Friday that scans revealed the fractures. Nootbaar, the expected starting left fielder, has been sidelined since getting hurt last Saturday.
“The concern is basically he has to get to a point where he’s pain free. Then he also has to get to the point where, which could take anywhere from 10 to 14 days, to where he can’t have any traumatic injury to that area,” Mozeliak said. “Over the course of 10 to 14 days, we’ll just monitor and see where he’s out. At that point, we’ll know if it’s more of a concern for opening day or not.”
