Tucker close to return after ankle sprain in Classic
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Relax, Astros followers. Kyle Tucker goes to be simply tremendous.
Tucker, who suffered a gentle proper ankle sprain in Team USA’s 9-7 win over Venezuela in Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup of the World Baseball Classic in Miami, returned to Astros camp Thursday on the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and went by means of some drills, together with some gentle working and hitting. He hopes to play Saturday or Sunday — Houston’s ultimate two Grapefruit League video games this spring.
“Against Venezuela, in the first inning, I had that knock past short, and when they threw to third, I went to second and I kind of rolled my ankle on the bag,” Tucker stated. “It’s just a little ankle sprain type of factor. It’s not unhealthy.”
Tucker didn’t play within the semifinals in opposition to Cuba or the championship recreation in opposition to Japan as a precaution. He stated he didn’t need to push it, particularly with a stable hand like Cedric Mullins capable of take his place in left subject.
“He’s a pretty good replacement, you know?” Tucker stated. “It made it a little easier. I still wanted to play every single game. I know it’s early in the year, so it’s kind of like an awkward and tough situation. Just didn’t feel good enough to go out there and play the best I could, and also knowing you have an All-Star-caliber player to play anyway. That’s how the situation was.”
The quarterfinal win over Venezuela was the identical recreation by which Tucker’s Astros teammate, Jose Altuve, broke his proper thumb when he was hit by a pitch. Tucker was in left subject when the play occurred and saved attempting to get the eye of Venezuela supervisor Omar Lopez — the Astros’ first-base coach — to search out out if Altuve was OK.
Altuve had surgical procedure Wednesday and can miss a minimum of two months.
“It’s tough,” Tucker stated. “I didn’t have the most effective view out in left. I hoped it ran up and in and glided by him or hit the bat or one thing or didn’t damage him too unhealthy. Obviously, it’s what it’s. … Hopefully he can get again as quickly as potential.”
Tucker, who caught the ultimate out of the 2022 World Series, stated the ambiance of the WBC was “relatively the same” because the Fall Classic.
“The crowd is probably just as loud and into the game as the playoffs are,” he stated. “Instead of just rooting for their own MLB team, you’re rooting for your country as a team. I would say atmosphere and noise-wise, it was probably roughly the same.”
All in all, Tucker stated the WBC was an unforgettable expertise and one he want to expertise once more.
“I always think the coolest part is hanging out with the guys,” he stated. “They’re all on completely different groups, and also you by no means get to have a private relationship with these guys. We get to play in opposition to them and say ‘What’s up?’ on the sphere, however by no means in the identical locker room or go seize a dinner or one thing collectively. Doing stuff like that and truly attending to know them as an individual greater than a participant is fairly cool.”
