Andre Ethier was poised for a strong season last year as he was coming off a resurgent 2015 and enjoying a successful Spring Training. That came crashing down when Ethier fouled a ball off his leg in late March, sustaining what was later discovered to be a fractured tibia.
Ethier was projected to miss 10 to 14 weeks but the complex, spiral fracture healed at a slower rate than expected. The injury essentially cost the veteran outfielder all of last season, with Ethier not returning until September.
Coming off a winter in which he managed to make a full recovery, Ethier was primed to remain part of the Dodgers’ outfield discussion this spring and into the 2017 regular season.
But he’s been slowed recently by hip tightness and back spasms. Ethier was penciled atop Sunday’s lineup against Team Japan but was a late scratch.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that was due to back tightness resurfacing and added Ethier is set to undergo an MRI, according to Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register:
Andre Ethier was scratched today when lower back tightness flared up again. Dave Roberts said MRI likely in next day or two. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 19, 2017
Andre Ethier's MRI is scheduled for Monday. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 19, 2017
Ethier was removed after just one at-bat on March 6 due to hip soreness. The issue wasn’t considered serious, but it prevented Ethier from participating in workouts over the ensuing days. He was then said to be battling back spasms.
Ethier returned to the lineup March 17 as a pinch-hitter, grounding out in his lone at-bat. He started in left field on Saturday and went 2-for-2 with an RBI double.
The 34-year-old has six hits, including one double and one home run, and two RBI in 12 at-bats over eight Cactus League games.
