Abreu will reluctantly rest tight hamstring

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- José Abreu said Wednesday morning he did not anticipate any lingering setbacks after leaving Tuesday's game with a tight left hamstring. But he has a slightly different target date than his manager in terms of when he'll return to the field.
A smiling Abreu said he'll be ready to play Friday at the latest. Manager Rick Renteria gave a more conservative timeline, estimating Abreu will rest for "three or four days," as a precaution.
When he relayed that message to Abreu, the first baseman said, according to Renteria, "Not at all. I won't be doing that."
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The exchange between player and manager was good-natured and somewhat typical, given a Major Leaguer's innate desire to play every day, and the manager's responsibility to provide a more measured approach, and do what's right for the player's long-term health.
In this case, that means Abreu is going to have to take it easy for most, if not all, of the remainder of the White Sox time in Arizona, which is ending soon. The team breaks camp after Sunday's game against the Brewers, heads to Charlotte to play its Triple-A team, and then will open the regular season in Kansas City on March 29.
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That gives Renteria plenty of time to make sure Abreu is fully healed, and it gives Abreu plenty of time to drive his skipper crazy with requests to play.
On Abreu's return to the field, Renteria said, chuckling, "I'll let him know." 

Abreu said he felt a "pinch" in the upper side of his hamstring when he was warming up, but did not think much of it. He played two innings but felt the pinch again when running to first in his second at-bat
"I didn't want to try to do something reckless," Abreu said, through interpreter Billy Russo. "I just decided I'll take it easy. [Renteria] said, 'You know what? Go to the training room, let's get you treatment and then we want to see from there.'"

The next day proved favorable for Abreu.
"I feel good, thank God," Abreu said. "Even though I don't like to be in this position and I don't like to be in the training room, I know the guys are doing what they're supposed to do to keep me in the best shape possible. I feel good. Right now, I'm feeling really good."
The prognosis on catcher Kevan Smith, who left Tuesday's game with a sprained left ankle, is less clear. Renteria said Smith will be reevaluated by a specialist.
"Right now, he's walking around good," Renteria said. "He was more shocked than anything yesterday. He's walking around with no limp, hardly any swelling. We'll know more tomorrow."

Renteria admitted his heart dropped a little when the players were injured. The goal the final week of Spring Training, especially for a team that has had few injury issues throughout, is universally the same: Get through it with the projected roster healthy and intact.
"You're trying to get out and you're close to leaving camp and putting yourself in a place where you're going to start the regular season," Renteria said.