Max Kepler Dealing With Back Injury
14 hours agoMLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (back) is dealing with a bruised lower back and doesn't currently have a timetable for a return. Kepler collided with the outfield wall in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles and had to leave the game. The 32-year-old veteran wasn't in the lineup on Monday and will apparently miss a bit more time at the tail end of camp. With Opening Day coming next Thursday, March 27, against the division-rival Washington Nationals, it's entirely possible that he'll have to open his first year in Philly on the injured list. When healthy, Kepler should be on the strong side of a platoon in left field, but he may need to pick it up offensively in order to keep that role. The injury-prone outfielder played in only 105 games in his final season with the Twins and hit .253 with eight home runs and 42 RBI.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
