Fear not, Rangers fans, Adrian Beltre isn't seriously injured. But he is taking a bit of a break in Cactus League play with less than two weeks to go before the Texas Rangers open the season against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 31 at the newly named Globe Life Park.
Beltre left last Thursday's exhibition with a minor quadriceps injury after several hamstring problems throughout his career. It's likely one of those deals that would've seen Beltre back in the lineup the next day if the games meant something, but at this point, it's wise to give a soon-to-be 35-year-old third baseman a breather. So that's what the Rangers are doing.
Beltre sat out Monday night's game against the Royals, and will do the same on Tuesday when the Rangers play a split-squad affair against the Brewers and Cubs. There's a scheduled off-day Wednesday before the Rangers play the Reds on Thursday, which is the target date for Beltre's return to the Cactus League lineup.
Beltre ran on a treadmill on Sunday and then did some running on the field Monday afternoon before Monday night's game and said he wanted to get back in the lineup.
“It feels better,” Beltre told The Dallas Morning News. “I was thinking about playing today, but the major league staff said they’d rather wait a few more days. Besides, they play better without me.”
