Mets third baseman David Wright still hopes to be ready for opening day, despite finding out he has a small tear in one of his left abdominal muscles.Wright underwent an ultrasound in New York this week and came back feeling optimistic.
"As long as I get a decent amount of time [of rest], I feel like I'll be ready," Wright told reporters (via MLB.com). "I'm not at the point now where I panicked or rushed. I still feeel comfortable with the amount of time I've got left.
"Whenever you strain a muscle, essentially there's some tearing. So it sounds a lot worse than it is."
He also had a cortisone injection to help with the pain in his side.
• Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard played catch on Wednesday -- but did so with a boot.
Howard's been wearing the boot since his Feb. 27 surgery to remove sutures in his left Achilles. He subsequently suffered an infection. His update wasn't much of an update, telling reporters he feels "fine," but is still waiting for his skin to heal before he can remove the boot. [MLB.com]
• Josh Hamilton left Wednesday's game with a "jammed right heel," although the injury was not considered serious, MLB.com reported. Meanwhile, fellow rangers outfielder Craig Gentry will be out three-to-five games with a sprained left wrist, suffered in Tuesday's game against the Indians. [MLB.com]
• Braves right-hander Tim Hudson said he could join the team's rotation by the first of May before undergoing his first bullpen session since having lumbar spin-fusion surgery in November.
"Nothing's written in stone, but I suspect that right now it's just [a matter of] getting me in shape, my arm and legs in throwing shape," he told reporters (via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). "That's the one thing that we're concentrating on now is getting in pitch shape."
• The Yankees got a scare on Wednesday when right-hander Freddy Garcia left the team's game with the Blue Jays after getting hit on his right hand in the fourth inning. Garcia was examined by a team doctor in Tampa and X-rays were negative.
• Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison said he felt sore from his two at-bats as a DH on Tuesday. Morrison had a double and said he felt fine after the game, but Wednesday morning manager Ozzie Guillen said Morrison was feeling sore. Morrison had arthroscopic surgery on his knee this offseason. Guillen also said first baseman Greg Dobbs has a small tear in his hamstring and will be out at least a week. [Palm Beach Post]
• The Orioles welcomed back rightfielder Nick Markakis on Wednesday, as he went 0 for 2 as the team's designated hitter. Markakis, who had abdominal surgery this offseason, said he will play in the field next week. [Baltimore Sun]
• Chris Carpenter played catch on Wednesday for the first time since being shut down due to neck stiffness on March 3. Carpenter said he felt good after throwing, but doesn't know of any sort of timetable for his return. [MLB.com]
• Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden may not be ready for opening day after a CT scan showed a slight tear in a ligament that supports a disk in his back. He's expected to need three weeks to recover. [MASNSports.com]
• Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session and looks to be close to returning from back spasms that have held him out of exhibition games. [San Jose Mercury News]
• Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada threw a 33-pitch simulated game on Wednesday and will be reevaluated on Thursday. He could pitch either Sunday or Monday. Wada has been sidelined by inflammation in his left elbow. [MLB.com]
• The Reds' banged-up bullepen had party in the bullpen with closer Ryan Madson (elbow), Bill Bray (groin) and Nick Masset (shoulder) all threw on Wednesday, with pitching caoch Bryan Price saying it went well. Meanwhile, another reliever, right-hander Jordan Smith, was shut down for 10 days with elbow inflammation. [Cincinnati Enquirer]
• Rays catcher Robinson Chirinos suffered a concussion earlier this week when a foul tip hit him int he mask. The team has no timetable for his return. He's competing for the backup catcher job with Jose Lobaton, Chris Gimenez and Stephen Vogt. [Tampa Bay Times]
• Reds manager Dusty Baker said he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in January and is hoping to avoid a knee replacement. He had surgery on the knee 35 years ago when he was a player. [MLB.com]
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