Bregman 'tweaks' hamstring; Alvarez limited

Astros manager Dusty Baker said third baseman Alex Bregman has yet to work out on the field this spring because he “tweaked” his hamstring, and he mentioned that designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has also been limited to working indoors so far as part of his recovery from double knee surgery.

Bregman missed 17 games last season with right hamstring “discomfort,” and Baker hinted Wednesday from West Palm Beach, Fla., that it was the right leg that was an issue once again. Bregman said he gained 27 pounds this offseason to be stronger at the plate.

“It’s something that was here last year, and then he tweaked it while he was working out this winter,” Baker said. “You know how hard he works. We may have to monitor his work for his own sake, because this guy works. His hamstring is sore. Again. We’re just got to take care of him.”

Alvarez, the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner, was held to two games in '20 because of a pair of bad knees. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in August and continues to recover. Alvarez had a slight tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee, which was repaired, and a routine cleanup was performed on his left knee.

“It’s no secret with Alvarez,” Baker said. “He’s recovering from surgery, and we’ve got to take him slow.”

Six players still yet to participate
Top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley and top catching prospect Korey Lee joined the team’s Spring Training workouts on Wednesday, Baker said. They were part of a group that had yet to hit the field because of coronavirus intake protocols.

With Whitley and Lee on board, the Astros have six players who have yet to begin workouts at camp, almost all of whom are delayed for the same reason: right-handers Blair Henley, Peter Solomon and Hector Velazquez and catcher Colton Shaver.

Also not working out yet is Pedro Leon, the Cuban outfielder who signed for $4 million last month. Leon’s arrival has been delayed as he goes through the visa process, the team said. The other player not in camp is veteran Zack Greinke, who’s expected to arrive on the final report date like he did last year, which is Friday.

Players still being in the process of completing their intake protocols does not mean they have necessarily tested positive for the coronavirus.