Astros relieved by MRI results on Walker's sore left oblique
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Astros received some good news on first baseman Christian Walker, as an MRI on his sore left oblique showed no strain, manager Joe Espada said Friday. Walker was scheduled to fly back to Florida on Friday with the hope that he would be eased back into action in the coming days.
Walker was scratched from the lineup Wednesday after feeling some pain during batting practice and flew to Houston on Thursday for an MRI. Walker missed more than a month last season while he was with the D-backs due to a strained left oblique, but he had maintained this injury wasn't as bad as that one.
¡°I asked him to compare how he felt last year [for] the first day or two symptoms-wise and he said, ¡®Joe, it¡¯s not even as near as what I felt last year,¡¯¡± Espada said. "That¡¯s good news. ¡ We¡¯re optimistic this is something we can overcome. He¡¯s going to fly back and we¡¯ll get him some treatment and try to get him back as soon as possible.¡±
Walker was taking batting practice in a batting cage Wednesday morning in West Palm Beach when he felt some tightness in his left side.
"I'm a little familiar with oblique stuff, but once I felt that I just tried to not push it given the time of the year and the timeframe and all that,¡± Walker said.
The Astros signed Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract in December as their biggest offseason addition. He¡¯s appeared in four Grapefruit League games this spring, going 4-for-8 with three doubles and two walks. Jon Singleton started four games in a row at first base before Victor Caratini was in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.
Zach Dezenzo, ranked as the team¡¯s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, will also get a look at first base this spring.
Despite missing a month last year with the oblique injury, Walker finished with 26 homers and 84 RBIs in 130 games for the D-backs. The 33-year-old has quietly established himself as one of the game¡¯s top first basemen over the past three seasons, pairing strong production at the plate with elite glove work. He¡¯s won three consecutive National League Gold Glove Awards at first base.