Injury updates: Gausman, Felix, Burger, Yuli
With a weekend full of games in the books, a handful of injuries have popped up across the baseball landscape. Monday's slate of games was no exception, with injuries stemming from collisions, batted balls and running out plays.
Meanwhile, several key players are working their way back from injuries as Opening Day looms, just over a month away.
The following are health-related notes you should know about from Monday's Spring Training action, as compiled by MLB.com's beat reporters and contributors.
Strange collision in Sarasota
The rust is apparent in early Spring Training games. For Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman and Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario, that meant a collision behind home plate -- although neither player was involved with a relay home.
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With one out and two on in the second inning, Leonys Martin lined a single to center field off Gausman, who went to back up home plate. Meanwhile, Candelario, who was on deck, stepped up to tell runner Jason Krizan to slide wide to avoid a potential tag.
Krizan's slide caused Candelario and Gausman to collide, and Candelario's helmet hit Gausman just below his left eyebrow. Gausman was removed from the game, and Candelario -- who initially stayed in the game but later exited -- is day to day with a bruised left knee.
"Looks like I got in a bar fight," laughed Gausman, who went through the concussion protocol and had his neck checked out and his back iced as a precautionary measure.
King Felix's first start cut short
Felix Hernandez exited his 2018 Spring Training debut early after he took a hard line drive to his upper right forearm.
After retiring the side in the first inning, Hernandez recorded the first out of the second, then Cubs catcher Victor Caratini hit a ball up the middle that caught Hernandez before he could react.
Hernandez was removed from the game and transported to the Mariners' facility in Peoria, Ariz. He is day to day, according to the Mariners, after X-rays revealed a bruise but no broken bones.
"He's going to be out a little while," manager Scott Servais said. "We'll know more in a couple days. It's unfortunate it happened, but lucky it's not any worse than it is. We'll just wait and see how he is the next couple days."
Top prospect carted off field
White Sox No. 10 prospect Jake Burger earned an invitation to big league Spring Training after the club selected him 11th overall in the 2017 Draft. However, his first Spring Training may be cut short after he sustained an injury to his left Achilles tendon.
Burger was running out a ground ball in the third inning when he fell to the ground hard and held his left leg. The training staff attended to him briefly, and he was carted off the field after being unable to put weight on the leg.
Burger had been making the most of his opportunity in camp, with a double earlier in the game and a triple against the Mariners on Saturday.
Astros resting Gurriel's wrist
Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel was scratched from Monday's game against the Marlins after experiencing discomfort in his left wrist following the team's workout earlier in the morning. Gurriel had trainers look at the wrist before he was removed from the lineup, although the severity of the injury is not yet known.
"He came out a little sore during his work today," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We did some infield work and he didn't feel very good with the glove on his hand, and we told him not to hit and pulled him out of the lineup. It's still February. We don't know a ton. It wasn't a 911 emergency as much as it was precautionary reasons."
Frazier dealing with mild concussion
Yankees outfielder and former top prospect Clint Frazier has sustained what the club is calling a "mild concussion" after making an acrobatic catch against the Pirates on Saturday.
Manager Aaron Boone said that Frazier described a cloudy sensation after hitting the back of his head against a chain-link fence. Frazier noticed an improvement on Monday, but Boone told him that the club will proceed cautiously.
Perez could be ready for Opening Day
Rangers left-hander Martin Perez was initially scheduled to miss the first few weeks of the regular season after breaking the radial bone in the tip of his right elbow in December. However, he's recovering ahead of schedule and may not have to miss any time.
Perez was scheduled to throw 45 pitches on Monday and is expected to start taking pitcher's fielding practice this week. Although he firmly believes he will be ready for Opening Day, manager Jeff Banister is more cautious.
"I know Martin has been adamant that he is going to miss no time," Banister said. "I love that about Martin. For us, on the conservative side, let's make sure he is ready. We need him for the entire season. If he hits all the marks for us, I don't see any reason other than setbacks along the way or we are uncomfortable where he is medically to be able to go. He's doing great. We feel good where he is."
Herrera's sore shoulder not a concern
Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera has only played in one Spring Training game so far -- as a designated hitter on Sunday -- but the club is not worried about his sore right shoulder.
Manager Gabe Kapler described the injury as "natural muscle soreness" from a throwing program, but Herrera is improving each day and was able to throw to bases from center on Monday.
"[He's] healthy, but wanting to work his arm into baseball shape," Kapler said. "Let's put it like this, zero concern. Nobody is concerned."