Gattis to test sore wrist with tee work, soft toss
Weekend activity will determine course of action.
By Christina De Nicola / Special to MLB.com | 10:01 AM ET
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Evan Gattis remains day to day with discomfort in his right wrist, but Astros manager A.J. Hinch is optimistic the slugger will make progress this weekend.
Gattis, who still hasn't been cleared to swing a bat, was scratched from last Sunday's game against the Nationals because of the injury.
"He's back at the complex today," Hinch said. "He didn't make the trip. We're continuing to evaluate him every day. Wrists are sort of day to day when it comes to his activity level. I don't think he's planning on hitting today. We're hoping to introduce the tee and soft toss over the next day or two to see where his wrist tolerance is. For now, we're going to hold off for the day."
Although the injury has hindered the offensive aspect of his game, Gattis has been able to take grounders and fly balls and "everything other than hitting."
Prior to the setback, Gattis was 5-for-14 with a double and three RBIs in parts of five spring games -- all but one of them as the designated hitter.
"I'm going to get him on the back fields here over the next couple days, hopefully, and get him some reps in a game in left when he returns to full action with us," Hinch said. "You'll see him in left field again. Trying to make him as comfortable as we can before Opening Day."
"Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything." ...~Toby Harrah, 1983