Evan Gattis did not play in Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals as originally scheduled. He was scratched at the last-minute from the lineup due to a right wrist strain. Gattis was slated to start in left field to get more reps at the position.
“He’s fine, as far as I know,” A.J. Hinch said of Gattis. “He has a little bit of wrist discomfort. I was debating whether to play him day game after a night game anyway, so with that discomfort we ended up taking him out of the lineup.”
Gattis is the only position player who will not be available for either of the Astros’ two split-squad games Monday.
“He took a couple of funky swings (Saturday),” Hinch said. “Again, this stuff happens in spring training. We’ll have to evaluate him and see how his swings are. He won’t play tomorrow and we’ll evaluate as the week goes.”
Gattis is hitting .364 this spring with two RBI.
Gattis, 28, was traded to the Astros from the Atlanta Braves this past offseason.
When the Astros traded for Gattis, it was made clear that the Astros had no intention of playing him at catcher. The Astros want him to stay healthy, and play him in as many games as he can in left field, or even at first base. The Astros are already fully stocked at catcher, with Jason Castro, Hank Conger and Max Stassi, who is the future for the Astros behind the plate.
Gattis hit 22 home runs in 2014, following up on his surprising 2013 season when he hit 21 home runs in becoming one of the game’s unlikely breakout players.
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