Rangers Andrus, Gallo shut down up to six weeks

Elvis Andrus and Joey Gallo are expected to at full strength well before the Texas Rangers open spring training next year, but each could be shut down for at least the next six weeks.

Andrus underwent surgery Tuesday for a sports hernia and will need six weeks to recover, the Rangers said in a release sent at dinnertime. General manager Jon Daniels later said that the injury developed gradually throughout the season before becoming severe enough for surgery.

Despite playing at less than full strength, the shortstop finished with a .302 batting average for the first .300 season of his career. He is expected to participate in the Rangers’ winter program in January.

Gallo injured his left hamstring last week running to first base in only his third game for Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League. Gallo returned to Arlington on Monday for an MRI exam that showed a Grade 2 strain that will shut him down four to six weeks.

Gallo, a candidate to be the Rangers’ starting first baseman in 2017, will not return to Venezuela once he’s healthy.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Rangers Andrus, Gallo shut down up to six weeks."