What does latest groin issue mean for Pence’s return to Rangers, All-Star availability?
Update at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday: The Rangers announced that Hunter Pence will not be on the American League roster for the All-Star Game next week after he aggravated his injured right groin. Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts has replaced Pence.
Original story from Tuesday: The record will show that the Texas Rangers had three players selected to the 2019 American League All-Star team. The box score from next week’s game, though, might show that only one of them played.
Hunter Pence’s start in the Midsummer Classic is in jeopardy after he aggravated his injured right groin Monday night while on a rehab assignment with Double A Frisco. An MRI exam did not show a new injury, but the Rangers pulled him off of assignment.
Meanwhile, left-hander Mike Minor will not pitch in Cleveland next week because he is starting Sunday for the Rangers. MLB rules prevent starters who pitch Sunday from pitching in the game two days later.
That leaves Joey Gallo, who will not participate Monday in the Home Run Derby to protect a left oblique injury but who has been cleared to play as a reserve. He came off the injured list last week, and MLB consulted with the Rangers about a possible invitation to the Derby.
“I’m good with it,” Gallo said. “I think that it’s pretty cool the organization is looking out for my best interests.”
Pence felt tightness in his groin while running in his final at-bat of his first rehab game. He was expected to be reinstated from IL this week, but manager Chris Woodward said Pence likely won’t return until after the All-Star break.
“He said it doesn’t feel awful, but it doesn’t feel good,” Woodward said. “We’re going to make sure he’s 100 percent. We’ve got to be careful with that one.”
The Rangers were not ruling out allowing Pence to play in the All-Star Game, even if it’s only a brief appearance.
“If he’s not going to be ready the day after the break, he’s not going to want to play in the game to risk his contributions to the team,” Woodward said. “But if he’s healthy, maybe we can consider one at-bat. Just tell him, ‘Don’t run hard.’”
Minor was scheduled to pitch Monday and Saturday, but the game Monday against the Los Angeles Angels was postponed following the death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. That bumped Minor to Tuesday, and he will also pitch Sunday in the first-half finale.
He was already unsure if he wanted to throw for the AL team had he thrown Saturday.
“It was already kind of up for debate,” Woodward said.
The Rangers will give Minor a few extra days of rest coming out of the All-Star break, holding him back until the third game, July 13, against the Houston Astros. That would line him up to start the opener of a three-game series July 19 at Houston.
Lance Lynn will start the second-half opener July 11, but there’s a catch: He is under consideration to take Minor’s spot on the AL team.
“He’s had a really, really good first half,” Woodward said.
This story was originally published July 2, 2019 at 10:52 AM.
