Major League Baseball

Astros place rookie Springer on DL with strained quad

Published Jul. 23, 2014 6:36 p.m. ET

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Houston Astros outfielder George Springer has been dealing with more than just soreness in his right leg.

The Astros placed their standout rookie on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left quadriceps. The team recalled outfielder Marc Krauss from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his place on the roster.

Astros manager Bo Porter and the team had originally said Springer's issue was with his right leg.

Springer cleared up the confusion before Houston played at Oakland on Wednesday night. He said he hurt his right knee and quad when he slammed into the wall after making a catch in Texas on July 9, but the injury to his left quad has been lingering for a couple of weeks and is more of a concern.

"It's just kind of in my best interest now to take some time and to rest and get back out there as soon as I can," Springer said.

Springer's stint on the DL is retroactive to Sunday because he hasn't played since Saturday at the Chicago White Sox. He leads the Astros with 20 home runs — one short of Lance Berkman's club record for a rookie — and is batting .231 with 51 RBI through 78 games.

Porter said Springer could still bat and run lightly. The team just didn't want Springer risking further injury by pushing himself too hard, especially if the situation called for it on the bases.

"I think when you think about it and him coming to the ballpark every day with the thoughts of, 'Let me see if I can go. Let me see if I can go,' when we know that he's not 100 percent, and putting him out there at less than 100 percent and missing a longer portion of the season just didn't seem wise," Porter said. "We felt like we'd take it out of his hands and you don't need to come to the park every day trying to get it going — just get treatment."

The Astros already were short-handed in the outfield with Dexter Fowler (strained back) and Alex Presley (strained right side) on the disabled list. Springer being sidelined only adds to the frustration.

"We've pretty much lost our starting outfield," Porter said.

Robbie Grossman started in right field against the A's and Krauss started in left. Utility man Enrique Hernandez was in center field. L.J. Hoes likely start for Krauss — who bats lefty — against left-handed pitchers.

Krauss hit .173 with four homers and 14 RBI in 39 games with the Astros earlier this season. He hit .289 with five homers and 38 RBI in 42 games for Oklahoma City. 

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