Houston Astros All-Star Yordan Alvarez still is not taking batting practice because a sore left hand that has sidelined him for several days.
Alvarez told reporters on Tuesday that soreness in the hand was an issue at times last year and continued to “flare up a bit at times” during the offseason.
As of Sunday morning, Astros manager Dusty Baker said the team's top slugger still is not swinging a bat.
Despite the soreness, Alvarez hit .306 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs and finished third in the AL MVP voting for the World Series champion Astros.
Speaking through a translator, Alvarez said he told team officials about the sore hand when he reported to camp.
“It’s just something we’re going to monitor,” said Alvarez, a native of Cuba. “I felt a little bit of discomfort but it’s something we’re going to monitor and work on. I’m going to take the next couple days off here like I did in the offseason and prepare but it’s not something that’s going to be an issue during the season.”
Alvarez had only three hits in the World Series, including a 450-foot, three-run homer that powered the Astros to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the decisive Game 6.