Beltre out of lineup with tight right calf muscle
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre's bumpy road to Opening Day has hit another pothole.
Beltre woke up on Monday with a tight right calf muscle and was not in the lineup against the Rockies. It comes just a day after getting one plate appearance against the Dodgers on Sunday.
"I don't think it's a really high level of concern," manager Jeff Banister said. "This is an extremely veteran player who knows himself well. It's not that he hasn't taken swings or been doing the work."
Beltre said the calf did not bother him until he woke up on Monday. The plan on Sunday was to take one plate appearance in the Cactus League game and then go to the back fields for extra work.
Beltre was limited by a tight left calf muscle earlier in camp, but he felt good enough to go play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He went 1-for-15 in the tournament, and he is 0-for-12 in the Cactus League.
"I just don't have everything in sync," Beltre said. "I'm seeing the ball, but I'm chasing a little bit. I haven't been able to put together good at-bats, one after another. That's what I'm trying to do."
Beltre could make up for lost time by playing in an unstructured Minor League game. That would allow him to at least lead off every inning and get extra at-bats. That could be the plan on Tuesday.
"I know I didn't play enough early because of my calf injury," Beltre said. "I'm not worried about it. In my mind, I'll make sure I'm ready to go."
The Rangers are scheduled to break camp on Wednesday and fly back to Texas. They are off on Thursday and then play the Royals in exhibition games on Friday and Saturday at Globe Life Park. Sunday is a workout day before they open the season against the Indians on Monday.
That is a week away.
"I believe I will be ready for Opening Day," Beltre said. "Spring Training is Spring Training. The season is the season. Once the lights turn on, it's go time."
T.R. Sullivan has covered the Rangers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2006. Follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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