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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on April 17 that infielder Jung Ho Kang will begin his rehab assignment with the team’s Triple-A affiliate, though it is uncertain when he will be able to return to MLB action.  

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Kang to Make Minor League Debut on Monday

Sunday, April 17

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Bill Brink, a single rehab assignment lasts 20 days at the most, but the Pirates could pause Kang’s stint in the minors or begin a new one altogether in order to ensure he’s 100 percent by the time he’s with the big league team again.

Kang far exceeded expectations in his first season in MLB, eventually finishing third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In 126 games, he had a .287/.355/.461 slash line with 15 home runs and 58 runs batted in.

According to FanGraphs, Kang’s 3.9 WAR was second-highest among the Pirates’ position players. His four-year, $11 million deal looks like a massive steal, even if his production drops slightly in his sophomore season.

Kang’s knee injury and fractured leg were the only blemishes on an otherwise impressive rookie year. His season ended on Sept. 17 in a 9-6 defeat to the Chicago Cubs after he got taken out at second base by Chris Coghlan:

In December, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington eyed an April return for Kang, but the player himself couldn’t say definitively in February whether he’d be healthy enough to play on Opening Day.

In addition to his offensive value, Kang gives the Pirates some defensive versatility. According to Baseball-Reference.com, he spent 77 games at third base and 60 games at shortstop in 2015. 

Given the Chicago Cubs’ hot start, Pittsburgh needs Kang back in the lineup in order to climb up the National League Central standings.

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The Minnesota Twins placed closer Glen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left shoulder strain, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

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Jepsen Likely to Assume Closer Role

Wednesday, April 13

The team called up Taylor Rogers from its Triple-A affiliate to fill Perkins’ place on the 25-man roster. Rogers made 27 starts for the Rochester Red Wings, going 11-12 with a 3.98 ERA.

Baseball writer Aaron Gleeman noted how some were concerned with Perkins’ health to start the regular season:

The 33-year-old has appeared in two games this year. He blew a save in his last appearance, allowing two earned runs to the Kansas City Royals in what was a 4-3 loss on April 10.

Granted, it’s an extremely small sample size, but Perkins’ velocity has dipped in each of the last three years, suffering a significant drop this season, per BrooksBaseball.net:

According to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, Perkins’ fastball hovered in the high 80s to low 90s in spring training as well.

If Minnesota hopes to climb back up the standings, it will need to have somebody upon whom it can rely on in the ninth inning. Although he has never been a full-time closer, Kevin Jepsen has experience finishing games, recording 10 saves with the Twins last year. It’s a far cry from Perkins, who saved 30-plus games and made the All-Star Game in each of the last three years.

Perhaps a short stint on the DL will allow Perkins to get back to 100 percent. If his shoulder strain is part of a bigger problem, though, it could be a major blow to an 0-7 Twins team. 

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Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds doesn’t see his all-time home run record falling anytime soon.

New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez is the only active player with a genuine chance of catching Bonds’ career mark of 762 homers. Bonds, however, was dismissive of the possibility, telling the New York Daily News‘ Christian Red on Monday, “No, not in two years.”

Last month, Rodriguez revealed to ESPN.com’s Andrew Marchand that he plans to retire following the 2017 season. Should A-Rod stick to his word, Bonds has every right to be skeptical of the future Hall of Famer overtaking him in the record books.  

Rodriguez entered Tuesday with 688 career home runs through five games in 2016, so between now and the end of next year, he needs to hit 75 more homers to be the all-time king. Not only will Rodriguez need to remain healthy, but he’ll also have to be productive at the plate during his age-40 and age-41 seasons. While he hit 33 home runs in 2015, he had 41 in his three previous seasons combined.

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is second in career home runs (560) among active players, while retiring Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is third (505). Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper are seemingly the only potential threats to Bonds, and that’s only by projecting at least a decade down the road.

After Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth on the home run list, his record stood for 33 years before Bonds broke it in 2007 as the steroid era was drawing to a close in MLB.

If A-Rod is unable to chase down Bonds, it might be a long, long time before anybody comes close to approaching the legendary slugger.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is one of the brightest talents in MLB, but it’s still too early to put him in the same discussion as the greatest players ever—a point that Barry Bonds will be all too happy to remind you, per William Ladson of MLB.com:

He is a beast. [But] he doesn’t compare to me yet. He has a long way to go [to be compared] to me. He is not even close to me. But he is one hell of a ballplayer. I watch him, I admire and I look at him, and I’m in awe. You don’t see that often.

Harper later responded to Bonds’ comments, via James Wagner of the Washington Post:

Looking at how they performed through their first four years, the two are relatively similar:

In his fifth year, Bonds earned the first of three MVP awards over a four-season stretch. Harper won his first MVP last year, but sustaining that greatness will be his next challenge. 

Of course, Bonds’ best work came well into his 30s. He was in his age-36 season when he broke the single-season home run record.

Comparing any player to Bonds—especially one as young as Harper—is unfair. The home run king, who was linked to performance-enhancing drugs during the latter stages of his playing career, may be the greatest offensive player in baseball history.

As long as he keeps up his current pace, Harper will have a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Baseball-Reference.com gives him a similarity score comparable to Hank Aaron, Orlando Cepeda, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Robinson and Miguel Cabrera, among a few others, through age 22.

Expecting the reigning National League MVP to reach Bonds’ level may be a bit unrealistic, though.

Note: Stats for Harper and Bonds are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The San Diego Padres placed starting pitcher Tyson Ross on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, per Nick Groke of the Denver Post.

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Ross Dealing with Right-Shoulder Inflammation

Saturday, April 9 

The Padres announced Ross’ DL stint is retroactive to April 5. Ross said he expects to be out the minimum 15 days, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

Ross was one of the Padres’ few bright spots in a disappointing 2015 campaign. General manager A.J. Preller bet big on building a contender as quickly as possible, and it backfired in a big way.

Some wondered if Preller would look to cash in on the right-hander. Jon Heyman reported for CBSSports.com that a number of teams were interested in Ross ahead of the 2015 trade deadline.

The 28-year-old finished with a 10-12 record and a 3.26 ERA. On its own, neither stat is all that impressive; however, Ross was at the mercy of the defense around him, which was one of the worst in the league. According to FanGraphs, he had a 2.98 FIP and 3.15 xFIP, which better illustrate his performance.

Control was one area of concern for the 2014 All-Star. His 3.86 walks per nine innings were the second-highest among qualified starters behind Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer, per FanGraphs.

Even if Ross cuts down on the walks in 2016, it’s unlikely to make a major difference on the Padres as a whole. San Diego will have a hard time competing in a loaded—at least with regard to the top teams—National League West.

It will be important for the team to keep Ross healthy, though, if it plans on moving him at any point this season. He has been pretty durable over the last three years, making 30-plus starts each season. Potential suitors might shy away, however, if they feel he’s suffering from a lingering issue.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber will miss the remainder of the 2016 season after suffering a torn ACL and LCL on Thursday, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Rogers reported Schwarber also suffered a severe ankle sprain.

MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat reported the Cubs called up infielder Munenori Kawasaki to take Schwarber’s place on the 25-man roster Friday.

The 23-year-old exited in the second inning of a 14-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday following a collision with teammate Dexter Fowler:

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo reacted to the news, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times: “It’s just tough man. He did everything to prepare to break out and become an even bigger star. Losing him and what he brings to the lineup is going to be tough. We’ve got guys ready to step up. I know that.”

The former No. 4 overall draft pick entered 2016 with major expectations. In 69 games last year, he batted .246 and slugged .487 to go along with 16 home runs and 43 RBI. Schwarber is a key piece of the youth movement the team hopes can deliver its first World Series title since 1908.

Baseball Prospectus’ Dan Brooks summed up the general reaction of Cubs fans:

FanDuel’s Will Carroll noted Schwarber’s injury could carry significant long-term effects:

Few teams are better prepared to lose a player of Schwarber’s quality than the Cubs. Manager Joe Maddon can move Jorge Soler, who was the designated hitter in Chicago’s wins over the Los Angeles Angels, to left field on a full-time basis. He also shifted Kris Bryant from third base to the outfield after Schwarber’s injury Thursday, which could be another option in the future.

There’s no question, though, that Schwarber figures to be a large part of the Cubs’ future. The team has a number of talented young stars, but nobody else, not even Bryant, possesses Schwarber’s power. While losing him for the rest of the season doesn’t eliminate Chicago as a title contender, it will make ending that World Series drought a lot harder.

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The Los Angeles Angels announced Wednesday they placed starting pitcher Andrew Heaney on the 15-day disabled list with a left flexor muscle strain.

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Heaney‘s Injury Adds to Angels’ Injury Woes

Wednesday, April 6

Heaney is one day removed from pitching six innings in a 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The left-hander allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out seven.

The team revealed the 24-year-old “complained of tightness in his left forearm,” per Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. The Orange County Register‘s Jeff Fletcher is worried the injury might be the start of a larger problem:

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the issue may not prove to be serious:

Heaney joins fellow left-hander C.J. Wilson, who’s dealing with a sore shoulder, on the DL. The Los Angeles Times‘ Mike DiGiovanna is worried about what Heaney‘s absence will do to the team:

According to Baseball Prospectus, PECOTA projects Los Angeles to be the worst team in the American League West, and it isn’t hard to see why. The front office has failed to surround Mike Trout with a competent supporting cast or build a strong rotation.

The Angels can ill afford to lose a starting pitcher, especially one of Heaney‘s caliber. Beyond he and Garrett Richards, their rotation is extremely shaky, even with Jered Weaver likely to return by the end of the week, per Gonzalez.

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced Tuesday they placed starting pitcher Matt Garza on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, with a right lat strain. It’s unclear when he will return.

Continue for updates.

Latest on Garza’s Recovery Timeline

Tuesday, April 5

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Garza will miss at least four-to-six weeks.

Garza Comments on Lat Injury

Tuesday, April 5

“It just got suddenly tight and it was the last start before the season, so no need to push it,” Garza said, per MLB.com’s Chris Abshire. “More precautionary than anything. I didn’t feel comfortable.”

Garza Looking to Rebound with Healthy 2016 Season

Garza is coming off a brutal 2015 season in which he finished 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA. According to FanGraphs, his 4.94 FIP was the highest of his career, while his 0.6 WAR was his lowest since his rookie season in 2006.

The Brewers will be counting on Garza to rebound in 2016. They don’t have a ton of depth in their starting rotation, and they’re paying him $25 million over the next two seasons, so they need to get a return on their investment.

Starting the regular season on the DL isn’t an encouraging sign for Garza’s chances this year. Milwaukee called up right-hander Tyler Cravy from its Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, to take his place in the pitching staff.

Cravy appeared in 14 games for Milwaukee in 2015, posting an 0-8 record and a 5.70 ERA. The Brewers have an off day Thursday and then another on April 12. Manager Craig Counsell can shuffle his rotation around a bit to avoid Cravy having to make a start if that’s the team’s plan following his call-up.

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The reigning National League MVP is picking up right where he left off in 2015.

In his first at-bat of the 2016 season, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper sent a Julio Teheran slider into the right field bleachers, giving the Nats a 1-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves on Monday in the first inning.  

According to James Wagner of the Washington Post, it’s Harper’s fourth home run on Opening Day.

He might have been motivated by getting a less than welcoming reception from the Turner Field crowd, per MASN’s Dan Kolko:

Harper certainly enjoys stepping up to the plate when Teheran is on the mound, per David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The only disappointment from the home run was that Harper didn’t play up his jog around the bases after Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench criticized his occasionally expressive celebrations on the field while calling in to The Rich Eisen Show (h/t Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media).

The Nationals will unquestionably need Harper to stay healthy and produce offensively if they’re to contend for the NL East crown. The fact that he’s already off to a hot start will be good news for Washington.

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After winning the World Series in 1986, the New York Mets looked to be building a dynasty in Flushing. Instead, they made one playoff appearance over the next decade. 

The Wall Street Journal shared an excerpt Monday from Ron Darling’s upcoming book, Game 7, 1986: Failure and Triumph in the Biggest Game of My Life. Darling, a former pitcher for the Mets, recounted how a number of his teammates used amphetamines and drank beer in the middle of games during the team’s title run.

Darling explained that players used amphetamines to help them get through the physical and mental rigors of an MLB season. The details aren’t particularly revelatory, as Mark Kreidler wrote on ESPN.com in 2005 that amphetamine usage has a long history in baseball:

Greenies got mentioned at least as far back as the Pittsburgh drug trials of the 1980s, when players testified they received the stimulants from Willie Stargell, Bill Madlock and even [Willie] Mays. All three men, who denied either using or supplying, later were cleared of wrongdoing by the commissioner’s office. (The current commissioner, [Bud] Selig, has said he first heard about greenies in the old Milwaukee Braves clubhouses of the late 1950s.)

The stimulants have been steadily mentioned ever since, too — but almost never by anyone in the midst of his career. A retired Tony Gwynn spoke openly of baseball’s amphetamine problem in 2003, estimating for The New York Times that 50 percent of position players were using them routinely, many of them before almost every game. (Gwynn subsequently was blasted by those in uniform at the time for, in their opinion, speaking out of school.) Chad Curtis spoke after his retirement about the pressure on fielders not to play the game “naked” — that is, not to play without speed.

Somewhat more surprising was Darling’s account of Mets players drinking in the middle of games they were involved in:

They had it down to a science, with precision timing. They’d do that thing where you poke a hole in the can so the beer would flow shotgun-style. They’d time it so that they were due to hit third or fourth that inning, and in their minds that rush of beer would kind of jump-start the amphetamines and get back to how they were feeling early on in the game—pumped, jacked, good to go.

Starting pitcher Dwight Gooden and outfielders Kevin Mitchell, Lenny Dykstra and Darryl Strawberry were among the centerpieces of the ’86 Mets. All four players were 24 or younger when the team won the title. The Mets should’ve been competitive for another three or four seasons at least. Instead, after reaching the 1988 National League Championship Series, they didn’t make the playoffs again until 1999.

Drug use played a part in curtailing Gooden’s baseball career. In a 2011 interview on ESPN’s E:60 (via ESPNNewYork.com), the former Cy Young Award winner revealed he missed the Mets’ World Series parade because he was high in a drug dealer’s apartment.

Strawberry, meanwhile, was addicted to cocaine, which prevented him from fulfilling his massive potential.

This all adds a different perspective to the Boston Red Sox‘s stories of fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse, which was the most recent MLB scandal of that nature. In 2011, the Boston Globe‘s Bob Hohler reported starting pitchers John Lackey, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett would drink beer, play video games and eat fried chicken on their off days in the clubhouse during games.

Those infractions are tame in comparison to the ’86 Mets’ exploits.

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