Texas Rangers Outfielder Leody Taveras Injury Update

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expects Leody Taveras to ramp up his hitting after the club's off-day.

Texas Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras is making progress from a low-grade oblique strain that puts his status for Opening Day in doubt.

Taveras was scratched from the lineup on March 5 and hasn’t played since. But he has been working his way toward getting more work in the batting cage, according to manager Bruce Bochy.

“He’s doing a lot better,” Bochy said Sunday. “He’s swinging from the left side. He’s got no issues from that side. After the day off coming up on Tuesday, he’ll start taking swings on the right side.

“So he’s feeling good. But we just want to be cautious so we don’t have a setback. With an oblique, once you have a set back then it’s longer. But I’m very encouraged with him.

“It’s going to be close, whether he’s ready or not (for Opening Day), but it’s good to see this improvement.”

When the Rangers disclosed Taveras’ injury, Rangers general manager Chris Young said the team would know more about Taveras' condition in about “seven to 10 days.”

Taveras is now at two weeks since being shut down.

Opening Day will be March 30 against Philadelphia.

If Taveras can’t go, the Rangers haven’t made a determination as to the starter in center field.

The Rangers could slide Adolis García to center. The Rangers could also start Bubba Thompson, who has logged several starts in center since Taveras was hurt.

“We have multiple good defensive center field options,” Young said two weeks ago.

The Rangers started Taveras at Triple-A Round Rock last season to allow him to get consistent at-bats. By June, his production was enough to earn him a call-up to Arlington.

Taveras batted .261/.309/.366.675 with 39 runs, 14 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 34 RBI. He struck out 88 times and walked 21 times. He stole 11 bases and was caught stealing five times. He played 93 of his 95 games in center field, with a .991 fielding percentage and just two errors.

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