ROYALS
Soler continues rehab
The Kansas City Royals are poised to exercise patience as outfielder Jorge Soler continues a rehab assignment at Class AAA Omaha.
Soler, a 25-year-old outfielder, is not expected to be activated today when the club opens a 10-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins, General Manager Dayton Moore said.
"His rehab assignment runs through May 10," Moore said Thursday. "And at this point in time, we fully expect to utilize that period of time for him to get some at-bats and get caught up."
Soler began a minor-league rehab assignment last Friday, 26 days after sustaining a Grade 1 oblique strain during the final week of spring training. Yet after playing in five games for Class AAA Omaha before a scheduled day off on Wednesday, his debut in Kansas City is not imminent.
The Royals will remain cautious with Soler as he regains his timing at the plate and tests his oblique in a less stressful environment. There is no public timetable for his return, Moore said, but the club would like to see Soler accumulate additional at-bats and reps in the outfield.
"He needs to play a lot more in the field, and obviously he was out toward the end of spring training," Moore said. "But it was still close to a month before he was back into a game."
Acquired in a December trade that sent closer Wade Davis to the Chicago Cubs, Soler was expected to begin the season as the Royals' starting right fielder. But a slow start during spring training led to additional at-bats in a handful of spring minor-league games. It was in one of those games that Soler strained an oblique muscle.
After close to a month of rehab, he returned to games for Omaha last week. He entered Thursday 4 for 17 with two home runs in five games. He's also struck out five times while drawing two walks.
The Royals will enter the homestand with the lowest-scoring offense in baseball, averaging just 2.57 runs per game.
METS
Cespedes pulls hamstring
NEW YORK -- Yoenis Cespedes left Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves with what the Mets are calling a pulled left hamstring, the latest blow to a team reeling from a brutal start to the season.
Though Cespedes has been dealing with a hamstring issue, the Mets chose not to place him on the disabled list.
But they may pay for that decision with an extended absence from Cespedes, all in the midst of a five-game losing streak and a looming three-game series this weekend against the division-leading Washington Nationals.
Cespedes doubled to right-center field in the fourth inning then hobbled after rounding first base. Manager Terry Collins and trainer Ray Ramirez sprinted to the base, where Cespedes stood doubled over.
Moments later, Cespedes began his slow walk toward the dugout, where he needed assistance going down the steps.
Cespedes' injury came on the same day that Noah Syndergaard had to be scratched with biceps discomfort.
DIAMONDBACKS
Miller considers surgery
PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller has a partially torn ligament in his elbow and is considering Tommy John surgery.
Miller said Thursday that he has a tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, but it was not a 100 percent tear. He also has a flexor strain in his elbow.
Miller has been on the disabled list since Monday with right forearm soreness and consulted with three different doctors who came up with similar diagnoses.
Miller was transferred to the 60-day DL on Thursday and will decide whether to have Tommy John surgery or try rehab, which might include stem cell injections to promote healing.
The Diamondbacks purchased the contract of left-hander T.J. McFarland from Class AAA Reno to take Miller's spot on the 40-man roster.
MARLINS
Manfred: Sale 'premature'
NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday labeled "premature" reports that a group headlined by Derek Jeter and Jeb Bush has received tentative approval to buy the Miami Marlins.
"Well, we have a policy; we don't really comment on sale processes," he said after a groundbreaking ceremony for the Jackie Robinson Museum in lower Manhattan. "There have been some premature, frankly, reports. There are multiple bidders for the Marlins. The Marlins are for sale. There is no agreement in place.
"We're working with more than one group and when we have a definitive agreement we'll make an announcement on that."
Asked about a timeline for such a decision, Manfred said, "The timeline is relatively short. It would be measured in days, not weeks."
Jeter, the former Yankees captain, has spoken for years about his desire to become an owner someday. Bush is the former governor of Florida. Their group would have to prove it has the proper financing before being approved by other MLB owners.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ground broken for museum
NEW YORK -- Ground has been broken in New York City for the Jackie Robinson Museum after a 10-year wait caused by the Great Recession.
Rachel Robinson, the wife of the trailblazing Hall of Famer, attended Thursday's ceremony in the SoHo section of Manhattan along with her daughter, Sharon, and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
About $23.5 million has been raised to build the museum, now scheduled to open in spring 2019. The Jackie Robinson Foundation hopes to raise a total of $42 million -- matching Robinson's uniform number -- to fund an endowment that will pay for the museum's operations.
Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He died in 1972.
Sports on 04/28/2017