DeShields suffers left hamstring injury
ARLINGTON -- A tough Sunday got much tougher for Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields when he left the game with a left hamstring injury in the sixth inning of 4-3 loss to the Twins.
Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for #ASGWorthy players
DeShields was chasing what became a Shane Robinson triple in left-center field when he lost his stride and ended up running into the wall. DeShields stayed down for several seconds and ended up limping off the field. Rangers officials said he will undergo a precautionary MRI Sunday evening.
Before that, DeShields had misplayed a couple of balls in left field and was caught standing off second base and tagged out to end the fifth inning, apparently unaware of how many outs there were.
The injury turned a bad game into what could be a much bigger problem. Seeing a speedy player such as DeShields clutching his hamstring is automatically concerning, and DeShields has also become a valued member of a surging Rangers team.
DeShields was May's American League Rookie of the Month and was hitting .293 over the past 30 games.
"Right now, I don't have an update other than I know that we're getting him evaluated," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "I have no news to give you on where he is. Obviously he's a speed guy, uses his legs. We're going to be cautious and conservative. We'll wait for the report. I don't want to put anything out there that we're not sure of."
In the event DeShields were to miss time, it would be the latest in what's becoming a long list of crucial Rangers injuries. Only a few weeks ago, Texas was faced with having to figure out how to slide Josh Hamilton in the lineup. Hamilton, of course, wound up going to the disabled list retroactive to June 1 with a left hamstring strain, and the Rangers also lost Adrian Beltre to a left thumb sprain.
Jake Smolinski replaced DeShields on Sunday, but Ryan Rua is likely on the verge of returning from a Minor League rehab stint and might make his return if DeShields has to go on the DL.
And if there's any positive, it's that the Rangers are becoming used to filling in the gaps.
"It's gonna be tough because [DeShields] has done such a great job since he's been up here," first baseman Mitch Moreland said. "But at the same time, we've had guys go down all year, and it seems like somebody else always comes up and steps up big for us. We'll be behind D and hope it's not as serious as initially what it looked like."