A batting tee. So safe, we let children use them. But hitting from a tee wasn't safe for Mark Teixeira on Tuesday and, as a result, the New York Yankees slugger will miss the World Baseball Classic because of a strained right wrist. He injured himself in the batting cage before an exhibition game for Team USA against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Yahoo! Sports' own Jeff Passan and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports were among the first to report Teixeira's injury.
A spring training of doom continues for the Yankees, who have lost Curtis Granderson to a broken arm, Phil Hughes to a sore back and GM Brian Cashman to broken ankle after a skydiving mishap. And now Teixeira, who won't play for perhaps 10 days. Poor Bronx.
Teixeira, who also represented the U.S. at the inaugural WBC in 2006, was looking forward to doing so again. Passan got this reaction from Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers, who also is one of Team USA's pitchers:
"I was looking forward to playing with him. It sucks to see somebody like that go down. I wish him the best and a quick recovery. I know he's not on my team, but at the same time, you don't wish for anybody to get hurt. Like I said, I was looking forward to playing with him. Great first baseman. Great stick, too. Just sad to see him not be a part of this right now."
As for the Americans, they have a plethora of first basemen from which to choose a replacement. A left-handed hitter would be ideal, Morosi reports. Would someone such as Prince Fielder of the Tigers be interested in stepping to the aid of his country? The likes of Paul Konerko, Ryan Howard, Allen Craig, Adam LaRoche, Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman, Eric Hosmer, Mitch Moreland, Brandon Belt, Ike Davis and Chris Davis also could be considered. In other words, much of the league.
Ben Zobrist of Tampa Bay will be Teixeira's immediate replacement, but manager Joe Torre says he prefers to keep him in a super-utility role. So America needs somebody. The U.S. opens WBC play Friday at Chase Field against Mexico. Will Prince Fielder join them? No pressure.
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