First Corey Kluber, then Jose Leclerc. Now, Rangers ask if short camp behind injuries
In the span of three games last week, the Texas Rangers lost two pitchers critical to the team’s chances in the 2020 season.
First, two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber left his Rangers debut after one inning last Sunday, and closer Jose Leclerc had to stop warming up Wednesday for a potential save opportunity.
Each felt tightness in the back of his shoulder, and each was diagnosed with a tear of the teres major muscle.
It’s a small muscle, despite its big-sounding name and the large amount of time a player loses when it is injured. And that small muscle is part of a significant issue across baseball.
Teams and players are potentially seeing the effect of having only three weeks to prepare for the season instead of six at a normal spring training, and they are bracing for more injuries whether or not the season is stopped because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The numbers are pretty high right now, and I don’t see that stopping, specially when we start talking about doubleheaders for relievers,” said Rangers right-hander Jordan Lyles, who was scheduled to start Saturday against the San Francisco Giants.
“Yeah, having to ramp up as quick as we did, the second time, injuries are going to happen more so than a normal spring training, that’s for sure.”
Right-hander Rafael Montero is trying to work his way back from a forearm issue that flared up as he prepared for the season, and left-hander Joely Rodriguez strained a lat muscle before camp that has kept him out so far this season.
The Rangers aren’t the only team that has seen a player felled by an injury.
The Houston Astros lost reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander to an elbow injury, the World Series-favorite Los Angeles Dodgers had to scratch former Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw only hours before his Opening Day start.
More than half the league’s teams have seen a pitcher land on the injured list.
Rangers position players have also been dealing with injuries. Left fielder Willie Calhoun wasn’t ready for Opening Day because of a muscle strain near his right hip, and manager Chris Woodward revealed on Friday night that center fielder Danny Santana wouldn’t start in the Giants series because of a sore right/throwing arm.
“We knew there were going to be issues,” Woodward said. “With the quick ramp up, with not facing other teams, I think it’s a combination of both of those.”
As much as everyone says spring games don’t count, they do in a few ways outside of player evaluation. The extensive spring schedule serves as a gradual build-up to the regular season while also allowing players a chance to play an opposing team and with fans in the stands.
The intensity and adrenaline can’t match a regular-season game, but players experience a dose of both.
They didn’t get that in summer camp facing their teammates in intrasquad games and live batting practice.
“We’ve stressed with our guys from Day 1, the intensity in the intrasquad situation, we’d have to get it higher,” Woodward said. “The second you see a different jersey, you tend to throw a little harder or reach back a little bit more.
“It is concerning. It’s something we’ve internally discussed often, especially since Leclerc’s injury. I think it’s important we keep an open mind and keep looking for solutions and answers moving forward to try to prevent this from happening again. Some of this may be out of our hands. We only had a certain amount of time.”
Woodward doesn’t expect to put starting pitcher on strict pitch counts, but he might be more cautious with how often he uses relievers. If COVID-19 disrupts the Rangers’ schedule without canceling the season, the bullpen could be asked to pitch.
Players didn’t have hands-on attention from Rangers athletic trainers as they continued to train while baseball was shut down. The medical staff is discussing various ways to help pitchers’ arms recover.
Pitchers, though, are sticking with routines they have used in the past but are willing to do extra work or receive additional treatment to stay on the mound.
“I can only do what I can control, and that’s mentally, physically be where I need to be every fifth day, and do my extra work inside,” Lyles said. “But it’s going to happen. They’re going to continue to happen because it’s all so new for everyone and different.”
