Mark Teixeira is going to be out at least until early May with a strained right wrist tendon, the latest major injury setback for the New York Yankees.
New York General Manager Brian Cashman gave the news after the Yankees’ were beat 8-2 by the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday.
Teixeira was hurt swinging a bat Tuesday in an indoor cage during pregame warmups with the U.S. WBC team. Initially, Teixeira was expected to be out eight to 10 days, but Teixeira was examined by Yankees doctors in New York on Wednesday and a diagnosis of eight to 10 weeks was given.
Cashman says Teixeira will rest for four weeks before beginning rehabilitation.
It’s the second major injury for the Yankees during spring training this year. Outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm when he was hit by a pitch Feb. 24. He will also be sidelined until early May.
Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes says he is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since being sidelined by a bulging disk in his upper back three weeks ago.
Hughes made 25 throws from 60 and 90 feet during his third level ground throwing session on Wednesday. He is set to add 10 pitches off a mound on Saturday and follow that with a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday or Monday.
Hughes says he is experiencing “no problems,” and feels “good.”
WBC warmups
Alfredo Despaigne hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, helping Cuba defeat two-time defending champion Japan 6-3 Fukuoka, Japan, to finish first in Group A of the World Baseball Classic. Despaigne’s home run off reliever Takeru Imamura at Fukuoka Dome gave Cuba a 6-0 lead.
Jake Arrieta allowed one unearned run in three innings and former Indians outfielder Russ Canzler had two home runs and drove in six runs as the Baltimore Orioles routed Spain’s World Baseball Classic team 19-7 in Sarasota, Fla.
Arrieta, who is competing for the fifth starter’s spot, allowed three hits and the unearned run. He walked one and struck out two. The Orioles scored nine runs in the sixth inning to break the game open.
Angel Pagan led an All-Star lineup for Puerto Rico’s national team by going 2 for 3 with an RBI in an 8-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, Fla. Pagan, who led the National League with 15 triples last season for the San Francisco Giants, had a double and also scored a run. Fellow outfielder Carlos Beltran of the St. Louis Cardinals had one of Puerto Rico’s 17 hits. Twins starter Vance Worley gave up six hits and three runs in 3⅓ innings.
Miguel Cabrera homered twice for Venezuela in a 14-10 win over the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Elvis Andrus, Asdrubal Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, Carlos Gonzalez and Cabrera combined for 10 hits. Cabrera connected in the fourth and fifth innings.
Jered Weaver struck out five in three innings and top prospect Kaleb Cowart drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels beat Team Italy 12-6 in Tempe, Ariz.
Cards bring back McGee
The St. Louis Cardinals hired former standout outfielder Willie McGee as a special assistant to the general manager focusing on the minor leagues. The 54-year-old McGee, added to the staff on Wednesday, served a special instructor at spring training last month.
