Yordan slowed by sore left hand to start camp

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Astros All-Star slugger Yordan Alvarez received’t have the ability to take dwell batting observe throughout the early days of Spring Training whereas coping with a sore left hand that was a recurring challenge final yr. Alvarez mentioned Tuesday the harm flared up within the offseason and he’ll want just a few extra days earlier than with the ability to face pitchers.

“I came into camp, and I spoke with the team,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be something we’re going to monitor. I felt a little bit of discomfort, but it’s something we’re going to work on. I’m going to take the next couple of days off here like I did in the offseason to prepare, but it’s not going to be something that’s going to be an issue during the season.”

Alvarez was on the injured checklist final July with proper hand irritation and wound up hitting .306 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs within the common season, ending in third in American League MVP voting. In the playoffs, he hit three go-ahead homers, together with a three-run shot in Game 6 of the World Series that despatched the Astros to victory.

The Astros actually received’t rush Alvarez into motion contemplating Tuesday was the primary full-squad exercise and there are greater than 5 weeks remaining earlier than the beginning of the season.

“The easy solution for that is just rest,” he mentioned. “Obviously, I use my hands every day at the ballpark, but rest would be the biggest thing.”

Alvarez hopes to have the ability to face pitching in a few days.

“I spoke to the staff, and we decided it’s better to lose a couple of days right now than during the season,” he mentioned.

The slugger mentioned the largest factor he targeted on within the offseason was strengthening his legs in anticipation of enjoying extra left area this yr Last yr, he began 77 video games at designated hitter and 56 in left within the common season.

“I know that this year I’m going to play the outfield a lot more, so I worked on my legs to be in better shape,” he mentioned.