Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez continues to make progress in his recovery from tennis elbow (right), and he remains on track to join Mexico for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
“He’s doing a little bit more. I think in the next couple of days he’ll start taking some tee work and soft toss,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said. He’s not feeling anything, so now we’ll start ramping it up. He’s doing a lot of the conditioning and workout stuff, but he’s still not taking grounders.”
Roberts doesn’t believe Gonzalez will manage to appear in a Cactus League game for the Dodgers prior to departing camp on March 6. The veteran first baseman, however, has not ruled out the possibility.
Roberts is not concerned with Gonzalez potentially rushing along his recovery and it having an adverse affect come the regular season. “With Adrian, he’s a different player,” the second-year manager said. “He has a very good feel for his body.”
Gonzalez has been nothing short of an iron man since becoming a full-time Major League player with the San Diego Padres in 2006, appearing in at least 156 games each year over the past 11 seasons.
The 34-year-old has previously suffered from a bulging disc in his neck and nerve issues that affected the lower half of his body, particularly last season. Roberts is hopeful he’ll succeed in convincing Gonzalez to accept a fair share of days off this season.
It’s plausible, if not likely that Gonzalez’s first game action this year will come in a WBC game. He, along with Sergio Romo and Alex Verdugo, are expected to leave Dodgers camp to join Mexico on March 6.
Kiké Hernandez (Puerto Rico) is also expected to depart Camelback Ranch on March 6. Ike Davis, a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, left camp following Sunday’s game. Davis is playing for Team Israel. Rob Segedin (Italy) will leave March 5.
