Moving at 'a nice pace,' Myers to take BP as soon as Wednesday
Lineup catalyst out since May 10 with wrist injury
SAN DIEGO -- Wil Myers, who hasn't played since May 10 because of tendinitis in his left wrist, could hit on the field during batting practice as soon as Wednesday, Padres manager Bud Black said Monday.
Myers, who on Monday missed his 20th game, continues to hit off a tee in the batting cage at Petco Park and worked on sliding drills before the game against the Mets.
Myers, the center fielder who was playing some first base at the time of his injury, then took ground balls and fly balls during batting practice.
"Wil is moving along at a nice pace. That's a good sign," Black said.
Myers injured the wrist in a game in Arizona on May 9 trying to brace himself against the infield dirt. He later landed on the disabled list.
Going into Monday's game, the Padres were 8-11 without Myers, who was leading the team in runs and hits at the time he went down.
Myers was first diagnosed with tendinitis near the extensor carpi ulnaris, a muscle located on the little finger's side of the forearm that is used to extend the wrist, during scans on the wrist on May 13.
He had similar scans last week to gauge the healing process. The tendinitis had dissipated, but there was still some soreness. Over the weekend, though, he started hitting off a tee, though not at full intensity.
Black said it is likely Myers will travel with the Padres on Thursday as they head to Cincinnati to begin a three-game series on Friday instead of the team's Spring Training facility in Arizona.
"Just to get repetition in the cage to build his strength, I think it's better right now for Wil to be with us as opposed to going to Arizona to take his batting practice," Black said. "… It's probably better for him to be with our medical team.
"I want him to be with [hitting coach Mark Kotsay and assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell] when he takes his swings. I want him to be with [coaches Glenn Hoffman, Dave Roberts and Jose Valentin] for his outfield play and infield play."
Myers was hitting .291 with five home runs and 19 RBIs coming out of the leadoff spot.
• Alonso nearing return: First baseman Yonder Alonso, on the disabled list since May 8 with a right shoulder bruise, could be reinstated from the DL as soon as Tuesday, Black said.
Alonso played in his sixth Minor League rehabilitation game on Monday, this time with Triple-A El Paso. He had two hits on Sunday. He had three hits in his first 16 at-bats, some coming with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.
"He'll get a couple more at-bats tonight in El Paso and if he comes out of it fine, a really high probability of him coming back tomorrow," Black said of Alonso, who was hitting .333 at the time of his injury.