Springer forced to DL with right wrist fracture
HOUSTON -- The Astros placed George Springer on the 15-day DL with a right wrist fracture Thursday, one day after he took a pitch off his wrist and left the Astros' 6-5 win over the Royals in the sixth inning.
In a corresponding move, Houston recalled Alex Presley from Triple-A Fresno, where he was hitting .308 with 74 hits and 35 RBIs in 64 games. The Astros also transferred pitcher Brad Peacock to the 60-day DL.
Springer was plunked by Edinson Volquez in the fifth inning, but he stayed in to run the bases and play defense in the top of the sixth. It was in the home half of the sixth that Springer's wrist began to stiffen and swell, according to Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who lifted Springer for pinch-hitter Domingo Santana.
"This is not going to be a surgical route," said Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow. "We're going to allow the bone -- the particular bone, it's a non-displaced fracture -- we're going to allow it heal on its own. We'll do whatever we can to speed that up, but nature has to take its course, so it's hard to tell [how long he'll be sidelined].
Video: The guys react to George Springer's fractured wrist
"It's definitely going to be a significant loss of time, but we'll have to find a way to overcome it."
Luhnow said Springer will have two major checkpoints -- one at the two-week mark and one at the six-week mark post-injury. The six-week mark would be the soonest Luhnow imagines the club would clear Springer to resume baseball activities.
Springer, who is in his first full season in the big leagues, is batting .264/.365/.457 with 13 homers, 29 RBIs and 14 steals in 75 games this year.
In addition to adding Presley, who played in 89 games and hit .244 for the Astros last season, Houston will also get Colby Rasmus back. Rasmus is recovering from an infected bug bite on his left hand and made the road trip with the club to Boston.
Center fielder Jake Marisnick is also in the midst of a rehab stint at Triple-A Fresno, where Hinch expects him to play Friday in his first full game since straining his left hamstring.
"We're just going to have to rely on the depth internally. And if it's not there, we'll go out and solve it externally," Luhnow said. "Springer's going to be a part of our team for a long time to come, so it's not like we would go out and look to replace him. If we're talking about replacing his production for six weeks or a little longer, we're going to have to look at it.
"We have enough options where we should be able to get some decent production. But if we feel like that's not happening, we certainly will explore other alternatives."