Spring Training 2017: Ian Desmond needs surgery on injured hand
Welcome to The Stew’s Spring Headlines, our daily look at the biggest MLB stories and news items from around spring training. Here you’ll find a quick recap of all the day’s action and other fun stuff from around the internet that we think is worth your time.
BIGGEST NEWS OF THE DAY: The Colorado Rockies paid $70 million to see what kind of pop Ian Desmond can add to an already dangerous lineup. Now they’re going to have to wait a little bit longer to see the dividends.
Desmond needs surgery on his injured left hand, the Rockies announced Monday. He sustained the injury Sunday when he was hit by a pitch in a spring game against the Cincinnati Reds. The surgery is scheduled to take place Wednesday in Scottsdale. It’s not immediately known how long it will take for Desmond to recover, but similar injuries provide a little bit on info. From the Denver Post:
Surgery likely prolongs his comeback to several weeks, perhaps multiple months, based on a timeline of similar injuries. Tampa Bay outfielder Kevin Kiermaier had surgery last season to repair a broken metacarpal and he missed seven weeks in the middle of the season. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had a slight fracture of the bone in 2014 and surgery kept him out about a month.
Desmond did not want to answer questions Monday.
“It’s a little bit better than I was expecting,” Colorado manager Bud Black said.
Desmond was scheduled to play first base this season for the Rockies. He had a big rebound season with the Texas Rangers in 2016, playing outfield and hitting 22 homers with 86 RBIs.
REDS PUT DESCLAFANI ON THE SHELF: Cincinnati Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani will be sidelined for four weeks because of an elbow sprain, but that’s not nearly as bad as it could have been.
DeSclafani had been dealing with elbow pain, but the club announced Monday that it’s just a sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and won’t require Tommy John surgery — that’s always the worry with such injuries.
From Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer:
The 26-year-old was diagnosed by team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek at his private practice back in Cincinnati on Monday.
“There is a sense of relief that it’s not (completely) torn and it’s something we’re able to address going forward,” said Dick Williams, the team’s general manager. “It’s always scary when you start having issues with that ligament. It’s something you’ve got to be real careful with going forward.”
DeSclafani first reported elbow soreness two weeks ago, and underwent an ultrasound exam at the team’s spring training facility. He was shut down for three days, but the soreness went away and he was cleared to resume throwing. He completed two bullpen sessions, but the soreness returned after the second one.
DeSclafani was in the mix to be Cincinnati’s opening-day starter prior to the injury. Now, he’s expected to be out until at least mid-May.
SPRING TRAINING THING OF THE DAY: The Brewers put a whoopin’ on the Mariners in a Monday spring-training game. Almost like it was football season and the Packers were beatin’ up the Seahawks. The final score was 24-3. Ouch. Good thing it’s March 13 and that doesn’t matter one bit.
YOUR DAILY TEBOW: If you missed the news elsewhere on the site, Tim Tebow — playing again with the big-league Mets — got his first hit of spring training. He also made a diving catch in left field.
.@TimTebow knows only one speed. pic.twitter.com/x8AN6lRUzT
— MLB (@MLB) March 13, 2017
No. 97 with hit No. 1 of #SpringTraining. pic.twitter.com/ooUxobgnG1
— MLB (@MLB) March 13, 2017
DON’T MISS IT: Today in Big League Stew’s season preview series, we’re looking at the Baltimore Orioles, who have plenty of offense but need their young pitchers to take a step forward.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
