When the Los Angeles Dodgers reported for Spring Training they were already set to be without Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas for the foreseeable future. McCarthy was still recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Montas underwent rib resection surgery on Feb. 12.
In procedural moves, McCarthy was placed on the 60-day disabled list on Feb. 19, and Montas on Feb. 21. Since that time, the Dodgers have had a slew of players fall victim to injury.
Mike Bolsinger was the most recent, as he was scratched from his start on Sunday due to an oblique strain. While the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been snakebitten by injury, position players have not gotten away scot-free.
Included in that is Yasmani Grandal, who missed some time earlier in the month due to a right arm contusion. Grandal went one week between games, returning on March 16.
He was in the lineup and behind the plate for a second consecutive day, but was removed from Monday’s game after only two innings. Grandal struck out in his lone at-bat. He was replaced in the third by Austin Barnes, who the Dodgers have given time to at second base.
According to Andy McCullough of the LA Times, Grandal said he left due to a doctor’s appointment:
Yasmani Grandal said he left the game because he had a doctor's appointment. Then he exited the clubhouse.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) March 21, 2016
While Grandal did have an appointment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts clarified the catcher’s removal was due to the same contusion Grandal was previously bothered by, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Grandal left with soreness in forearm. Also had a doctor appointment.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 21, 2016
Grandal began the day batting .400/.438/.733 in seven Cactus League games. He hit his first home run of the spring last week, a towering solo shot, against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields. The reason behind Grandal’s removal has not yet been made available. Updates will be provided once they are received.
