CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies lost another position player to injury when second baseman César Hernández sustained a Grade 1 strain of his right hip flexor Monday in a Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

Hernandez had an MRI exam on Wednesday. He visited Phillies physician Steven Cohen on Thursday to confirm the results.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said there is no timetable for Hernandez’s return.

“I feel better now than when it happened,” Hernandez said through the team’s interpreter. “That’s a positive thing. The day after that I was feeling better already. If it’s up to me, I would go on the field tomorrow because I’m a competitive guy and like being out there. But I can’t really give you a timetable because maybe it’s one week, two weeks, three weeks. All I know is it's mild and I’m very optimistic, because the day after it happened, I was already feeling better.”

Hernandez joins outfielders Odubel Herrera (strained left hamstring) and Roman Quinn (strained right oblique) and right-hander Tommy Hunter (right arm flexor strain) as injured Phillies expected to be on the Opening Day roster.

If Hernandez’s injury lingers, Scott Kingery stands to get a bump in playing time. He is expected to make the team as a super-utility player, but second base is his best and natural position. Kingery entered camp competing for playing time at third base with Maikel Franco, who is the favorite to get the most reps there.

Up next

The Phillies host the Pirates on Friday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET at Spectrum Field. Phillies right-hander Drew Anderson (1-0, 3.38 ERA) faces Pirates right-hander Nick Kingham.