MVN - Most Valuable Network

NEWSFLASH: Blalock Out 3-4 Weeks With Hamstring Tear

This is not the news that the Texas Rangers were hoping to hear.

Multiple local media sources, including Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, are reporting that a Monday morning MRI performed on third baseman Hank Blalock’s ailing left hamstring revealed a “small tear,” which is expected to sideline the two-time All-Star for at least three to four weeks.

Blalock, 27, had batted .299/.365/.460 (124 OPS+ and .287 EqA) with three home runs and five doubles through his first 87 at-bats of the 2008 season, good for above-average offensive production from the hot corner.

The injury was originally sustained during the final inning of the Rangers’ 10th-inning walk-off victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday evening, when Blalock pulled up lame between first and second base while attempting to leg out a double.

Hank, to his credit, continued running full-tilt through the pain and executed a quality slide to reach the bag before the Twins’ defense could gun him down.

Though accompanied by manager Ron Washington and head trainer Jamie Reed, Blalock gingerly departed from the field under his own power, and was replaced on the basepaths by the ever-versatile German Duran; moments later, Duran scored the winning run when outfielder David Murphy laced a two-out double over the head of left fielder Delmon Young.

With third baseman Travis Metcalf still unavailable as the result of his own ongoing efforts to recover from a torn hamstring muscle, utility infielder Ramon Vazquez will likely receive the bulk of the playing time at the position going forward. Duran could see some occasional playing time at third base as well.

As far as the 25-man and 40-man roster conundrums are concerned, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News suggests that one of the bashing RedHawks - either first baseman Chris Shelton (.354/.429/.625 in 48 AB) or outfielder Nelson Cruz (.364/.538/.758 in 66 AB) - could receive a promotion to the big league level, with Metcalf perhaps being assigned to the 60-day disabled list to create room for their addition.

Brandon Boggs (.309/.368/.456 in 68 AB), another Triple-A Oklahoma outfielder who already resides on the 40-man roster, may be a more palatable option to the Rangers; his addition to the 25-man roster wouldn’t require a 40-man roster move.

Stay tuned.

[4/29, 11:40 AM Update: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers are expected to purchase the contract of Brandon Boggs, which would represent his Major League debut. No roster move has yet been officially consummated, but something should come down before tonight’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals.

[4/29, 5:40 PM Update: Blalock has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 26th, and Boggs has been promoted. Nothing we hadn’t already been expecting, but it’s nice to have some finality.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 2:58 pm and is filed under NEWSFLASH, The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.