MLB PLAYER NEWS

Astros’ Springer aims to keep DL stint brief

The Sports Xchange

July 24, 2014 at 12:54 am.

Springer leads the Astros in home runs (20) and RBIs ( 51). Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. — Houston Astros rookie center fielder George Springer tried to play through a painful injury to his left quadriceps, hoping it would heal without him having to miss many games.

That plan failed, so the Astros turned to Plan B on Wednesday, placing Springer on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday.

“It’s one of those things where I think it’s in my best interests just to get healthy,” said Springer, who leads the Astros in home runs (20) and RBIs ( 51). “It’s tough. I want to be out there with my team and help and fight and play every day, so this is obviously going to be hard on me.”

Springer’s left quad has been bothering him since early in July. He also recently dealt with a sore right knee, an injury that occurred before the All-Star break against the Texas Rangers at Arlington when he crashed into the outfield wall.

Astros manager Bo Porter said he tried to get Springer to dial back his on his all-out, all-the-time style of play in an effort to help his injuries. Springer’s competitive nature kept taking over.

“Trying to get him to back it down, we didn’t think that was going to be possible,” Porter said before the Astros’ 9-7 loss to Oakland. “So instead of risking him blowing out his quad and missing the rest of the year, we take 15 days, let the training staff do their due diligence and treatment, and hopefully he’s able to come back and play the rest of the year without any ill effects.”

Springer said playing hurt and trying to go less than all-out was difficult.

“I want to go out there and play at 100 percent and be able to help and be who I am,” Springer said. “When it’s not that case, it’s tough. For me it’s just been harder because I know that I’m not at 100 percent. That’s how I play.”

The Rangers called up Marc Krauss from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Springer’s spot on the 25-man roster. Krauss, who can play first base or in the outfield, started in left field and hit cleanup Wednesday night.

“You want to be in those situations where you can help the team,” said Krauss, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run. “For me it’s kind of driving in runs, being in the middle. That’s what I plan to do while I’m here.”

Krauss made the Astros’ Opening Day roster but hit just .173 with four home runs in 39 games before being sent down. In 42 games with Oklahoma City, Krauss batted .289 with 12 doubles, five homers and 38 RBIs.

“I’m excited, definitely,” Krauss said of his promotion. “This is why you put in all the hours and hard work is to get to this level. I think it was beneficial for me to go down to Oklahoma City and work on some things and play every day and do all that stuff to kind of get some confidence and my rhythm and all that good stuff back. I feel good. I’m happy to be back. I wish George wasn’t hurt. Obviously a lot of people are in that boat. That’s a part of the game. I’m just going to try and step in and do what I can to help the team win.”

Did something click at Oklahoma City?

“I think I became a little more aggressive at the plate, just trying to get my pitch and not miss it,” Krauss said. “For a while there, I was doing pretty well. I’m trying to continue to work on that. I’m going to use that same approach while I’m up here, and hopefully I can help the team in any way I can.”

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