Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez out with a hip injury
Hernandez felt some tightness while running the bases on Monday, manager Gabe Kapler said.
Cesar Hernandez’s slide into home plate on Monday proved costly, as the second baseman became the latest Phillie to go down with an injury.
An MRI on Wednesday revealed a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right hip. Hernandez will be out for an undisclosed time. Manager Gabe Kapler said the team does not have a timetable for the switch-hitter’s return.
“If it’s up to me, I would go on the field tomorrow, because I’m a competitive guy and like being out there,” Hernandez said. “But, I can’t really give you a timetable, because maybe it’s one week, two weeks, three weeks. All that I know is its mild, and I’m very optimistic because, the day after it happened, I was already feeling better.”
The first two weeks of spring training have not been kind to the Phillies. Odubel Herrera is out with a strained hamstring, Tommy Hunter has a flexor strain in his right arm, and Roman Quinn has a strained oblique.
The injured players do not seem to be on the verge of returning. Herrera has made slight progress but has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game, Hunter is a week away from being reevaluated, and Quinn is expected to miss at least two weeks. All four entered camp with jobs secured on the opening-day roster.
If Hernandez’s injury becomes a long-term concern, it will open up a chance for Scott Kingery to play second base. The Phillies, after failing to trade Hernandez this winter, said they would have Kingery move around the diamond, as he did last season. But, he would be their first option at second base, if needed.
If Kingery entered the starting lineup, it would help the chances of Sean Rodriguez to make the team as a utility player.
Extra bases
The Phillies tied the Orioles, 5-5, in Clearwater, and topped the Blue Jays, 11-5, in Dunedin. First base prospect Darick Hall homered against the Orioles, and Dylan Cozens hit his second homer of spring against the Jays. ... Drew Anderson will start Friday for the Phillies against Pittsburgh in Clearwater.