With 2017 Spring Training winding to a close, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear destined to begin another season with Andre Ethier on the disabled list. The veteran outfielder was removed from a game on March 6 due to back soreness, and has been limited since that point.
As Ethier missed some workouts and remained out of the lineup he was said to be suffering from hip soreness. Back spasms were also an issue he recently dealt with. The 34-year-old made a pinch-hit appearance March 17 and started in left field the following afternoon.
But Ethier was scratched from the lineup March 19 and sent for an MRI of his balky back, which revealed a herniated disc. The injury isn’t considered serious and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently downplayed any ‘long-term’ concern.
Nonetheless, Ethier had x-rays and a CT scan on his back and will meet with a specialist once he receives the results, per Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register:
Andre Ethier said he had CT scan and X-rays on his back. Will meet with Dr. Robert Watkins to determine treatment course going fwd
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 23, 2017
Over eight Cactus League games, Ethier is 6-for-12 with one double, a home run, six walks and two RBI in 12 at-bats. Although the Dodgers publicly haven’t expressed much concern over the injury, there may some reason to worry.
Clayton Kershaw’s bulging disc last season was initially diagnosed as mild, only for him to miss 10 weeks. When Ethier sustained a fractured tibia last spring, he was projected to be sidelined for 10 to 14 weeks.
That put him on track to return in June or July, but Ethier was not reinstated from the 60-day disabled list until September. While his recovery from the spiral fracture was more complex and arduous than expected, Ethier reported to camp this year fully recovered.
