Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier was removed in the fourth inning on Friday as a result of fouling a pitch off his right shin. Ethier immediately dropped to the ground in a heap of pain and was checked on by Dodgers head athletic trainer Neil Rampe and manager Dave Roberts before slowly rising to his feet.
The veteran outfielder finished the plate appearance by drawing a walk, gingerly made his way down the first base line and limped to the dugout after being pinch-run for. Ethier was later carted to the clubhouse and sent for x-rays, which came back negative.
The Dodgers listed him as day-to-day with a lower leg contusion. Ethier entered the Dodgers clubhouse at Camelback Ranch on Saturday morning using crutches and his shin wrapped; he described the pain as “top three.”
On Saturday, Roberts said Ethier would be out for “two or three days” and the team would re-evaluate after that. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the soon-to-be-34-year-old will have a bone scan:
Andre Ethier, still on crutches three days after fouling a pitch off his shin, will have a bone scan taken today.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 21, 2016
Ethier was in the midst of another strong showing in Spring Training, batting .435/.517/.652 (10-for-23) with one home run, one triple, five walks and four RBIs over 10 Cactus League games. He was also familiarizing himself with being placed in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career.
Ethier owns a career .383 on-base percentage and 116 OPS+ against right-handers. Those drop to .234 and 56, respectively, against left-handed pitching. He batted .294/.366/.486 with 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 53 RBIs, had a .366 wOBA and 137 wRC+ over 142 games last season.
The veteran outfielder will reach 10 years of Major-League service time, including the last five with the Dodgers, on April 21. As a 10-and-5 player he will earn the right to veto any trade. Ethier is owed $18 million this season and $17.5 million in 2017. His contract includes a $17.5 million club option for 2018 with a $2.5 million buyout.
