HOUSTON -- Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis told MLB.com on Tuesday that he will miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia.
Gattis said via text message that he is optimistic he will be ready for the start of the regular season or shortly thereafter, and he hopes to start getting some at-bats in mid- to late March. Astros position players are scheduled to work out for the first time on Feb. 23.
General manager Jeff Luhnow couldn't be reached for comment.
Gattis, who hit .246 with 11 triples, 27 homers and 88 RBIs in 2015 in his first season in Houston, said he had been feeling some discomfort for "a while" and that he underwent an MRI after the discomfort worsened about a week ago.
"Within five days I'm in Philadelphia with Dr. [Bill] Meyers," Gattis said. "He has an excellent track record with these core-related injuries."
Gattis lost nearly 20 pounds this winter in an effort to try to play first base or catch this season.
The Astros are scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Tuesday with Gattis, who is asking for $3.8 million; the club is seeking to pay Gattis $3 million in his first year of arbitration.