DENVER — Now, the Rangers believe it is a nerve issue Max Scherzer is dealing with, not a ligament.
Also, it appears right-hander Carson Coleman, whom the Rangers selected from the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 draft, will not pitch this season.
While the Rangers were in Oakland, Scherzer, whose rehab from a back injury has been stalled for the last 10 days, received a cortisone injection to his neck to help alleviate what doctors thought was more likely nerve irritation that ran down his arm than ligament inflammation. He played catch without issue on Friday, but had to cut short his session on Saturday because of soreness in the triceps area.
Scherzer had been more optimistic on Friday, saying he felt he had more clarity about the issue, but acknowledged frustration over the issue on Saturday. He’s likely to meet with doctors again when the club returns to Texas. There are some other non-invasive treatment options to explore for the nerve issue. Scherzer said he’s passed all the strength tests he’s been presented.
Scherzer, 39, had made quick, steady progress from December back surgery that allowed him to get to a rehab assignment on April 24. He pitched 2.1 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers were initially optimistic he could make one more start after that and return to the roster sometime during the current road trip. But the thumb began aching shortly thereafter.
As for Coleman, 26, who underwent elbow surgery in early 2023, he appears to have suffered a setback in his recovery. GM Chris Young said Friday it was unlikely that Coleman would pitch this year. If he requires further surgery, it would likely knock him out of 2025, too.
The Rangers began the weekend in Colorado with 13 players on the injured list, second most in the majors. Here’s the full rundown on their injuries:
10-day IL (position players)
OF Wyatt Langford (right hamstring strain, May 5): Injured the hamstring running out of box at Kansas City on May 4. It is considered a moderate strain. Projected return: Early June
INF Justin Foscue (Left oblique strain, April 8): This is the third oblique injury of Foscue’s professional career. He injured it on the swing that preceded his first MLB hit. He has not been around the team since the injury, which was considered significant. Projected return: TBD
15-day IL (pitchers)
RHP Josh Sborz (Right rotator cuff strain, May 9): This is the second trip to the IL this season with the same injury. He missed 18 days from April 7-25. Sborz’s velocity was down ahead of being removed from his outing at Oakland on May 8. Projected return: TBD
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (Right groin strain, May 3): After leaving May 2 start after 5.1 scoreless innings, he saw a New York specialist to rule out a possible sports hernia. The prognosis suggested the injury was less severe than feared. Projected return: Late May
RHP Austin Pruitt (Right meniscus injury, Apri 21): Allowed six runs, including three homers, in 4.1 innings over four outings before the injury cropped up. Could potentially be moved to 60-day IL as there does not appear to be a return in sight. Projected return: TBD
LHP Cody Bradford (Stress fracture in rib, April 11): After initially believing it to be a lower back strain, it was discovered as a stress fracture in the 12th rib on April 26th. Bradford could begin throwing off a mound sometime during the Rangers May 13-19 homestand. At the time of the ultimate diagnosis, the Rangers anticipated it would take “another three or four weeks.” Projected return: Early June
RHP Max Scherzer (Back surgery, March 25): Back is doing fine, but the thumb issue has slowed him down after he’d reached the point of going on a rehab assignment. He received a cortisone injection on May 8 to try to relieve what Rangers doctors indicated was more likely a nerve issue than skeletal. Projected return: TBD
60-day IL
LHP Brock Burke (Right hand fracture, April 13): After series of frustrating outings, he punched a door outside the Rangers clubhouse in Houston, suffered the fracture, required a surgical repair and was ultimately sent to Arizona to rehab or do his penance. Projected return: Post All-Star break
3B Josh Jung (Right wrist fracture, April 2): Was hit by a pitch as he tried to check a swing at Tampa Bay on April 1. Underwent surgery two days later, during which the damage was determined to be more complex than originally thought. The Rangers estimated at the time the recovery would take 8-10 weeks. Projected return: Mid- to late June.
RHP Jacob deGrom (Right elbow surgery, June, 2023): Has extended throwing program to 105 feet, the last hurdle before he starts throwing off a mound. Projected return: August
RHP Tyler Mahle (Right elbow surgery, May 2023): Has begun traveling with Rangers as he ramps up his pitching program. Is throwing all his pitches off the mound and could start doing the equivalent of multiple-inning bullpens in near future. Projected return: July.
RHP Carson Coleman (Right elbow surgery, May 2023): The recovery of the Rule 5 pick from the New York Yankees has not gone well. GM Chris Young acknowledged on May 11 that he’d suffered a “setback”. It’s possible he could need a revision of the elbow ligament repair surgery he underwent last year. Projected return: Not expected to pitch in 2024.
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