CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies rightfielder Aaron Altherr left Florida on Sunday and will see a hand specialist in Philadelphia on Monday, manager Pete Mackanin said following Sunday's win over the Yankees (see story).
Altherr, the projected opening day rightfielder, injured his left wrist on a diving attempt on the first play of Friday's game. His wrist has been in a splint since. Altherr initially downplayed the injury and said it wasn't nearly as bad as the wrist fracture he suffered sliding into a base in the Arizona Fall League in 2013.
Altherr, 25, impressed from a power standpoint last season as a rookie, hitting .241/.338/.489 with 20 extra-base hits (including five homers) in 161 plate appearances.
The Phillies' outfield could be reshaped if he misses extended time. It could open up more opportunities for Rule 5 pick Tyler Goeddel and perhaps Cody Asche when he returns from an oblique injury. The Phils wouldn't put Asche in right field, but they could play him in left and shift either Odubel Herrera or Peter Bourjos to right field.
Eickhoff making progress
Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is progressing in his rehab from a fractured right thumb. He threw to hitters Sunday and hopes to make his first spring training appearance by the end of the week.
"He's progressing very nicely," Mackanin said. "He threw a live BP and even used his curveball a bit. Even though he's a little bit behind, he's going to be ready for the season."
Eickhoff, 25, was one of five prospects acquired from the Rangers in last July's Cole Hamels trade. He proved to be the most major-league ready piece of the Phils' return even though Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams and Jake Thompson were viewed as the core players in that deal.
MLB
In eight starts in the majors last season, Eickhoff went 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA, striking out 49 batters in 51 innings. He struck out 10 Nationals and 10 Mets in his final two starts last season, and in his last four allowed just three runs in 28 innings, holding his opponents to a .170 batting average.
Eickhoff suffered the small fracture in his right thumb on a bunt attempt back on Feb. 11.
David Hernandez OK
Reliever David Hernandez, assumed to be the top choice to close for the Phillies given his experience and $3.9 million salary, was supposed to pitch Saturday but didn't. He said Sunday there's nothing wrong physically, that it was simply a precautionary measure.
"I only need about 10 appearances this spring," Hernandez said.
Hernandez threw a perfect inning in the Phillies' first official spring training game last week against Toronto and hasn't pitched since.
He expects to pitch next in the middle or later part of the week. Hernandez missed all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Blanco improving
Andres Blanco was on a side field around 8 a.m. Sunday taking ground balls and took batting practice a few hours later. The utility infielder has been out with a shoulder injury. Mackanin said he hopes to get Blanco into Monday's game in Bradenton against the Pirates.
No sign of Howard
Ryan Howard was home sick with the flu Sunday. He didn't play Saturday in Dunedin after leaving Friday's game early with symptoms that included trouble seeing. He's still day to day.