SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Lance Berkman has a mild right calf strain and won’t play in today’s scheduled intrasquad game for the Texas Rangers. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Berkman, 37, signed with the Rangers this offseason and is penciled in as the No. 3 hitter, a spot previously occupied by Josh Hamilton. He said he felt the calf tighten up during drills Tuesday.
“It’s slightly more than normal muscle soreness, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,” said Berkman, who is wearing a sleeve on his leg.
Berkman played in just 32 games last season after dealing with knee issues that included surgery. He hit .301 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs in 145 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. The Rangers have told Berkman to go through spring training at his own pace in hopes of making sure he’s completely healthy for the season. He said last week he was at about 80 percent health and was confident he could get to 100 percent by the end of spring.
“I think it’s the result of more volume than I’ve done,” Berkman said. “We’re taking ground balls, we’re running and we haven’t been doing that stuff. I’ve been in more of a rehab mode and now have shifted into baseball mode and it’s not something to me that is that concerning. It’s just one of the things that happens to you early in camp when you’re trying to sort things out.”
Berkman knows that everyone is watching his every move because the club needs him to stay healthy.
"I'm sure there's some trepidation because it's a house of cards with me," Berkman said.
Other injury news:
* RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery) is still on track and throwing from 135 feet. He'll ramp up to 150 feet soon, barring any setbacks, then take two days off before getting on a mound. That's still looking like March 1 or 2.
* RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John) is scheduled to throw 30 pitches off a mound again today. He will do that Friday as well and then will see what's planned for him next. At some point, he'll work his offspeed and breaking stuff in, but so far he is throwing fastballs.
"I'm going harder and I feel great," Soria said. "I just want to keep it going and stick to the plan."
* RHP Wilmer Font (shoulder inflammation) is expected to throw off flat ground today. If all goes well, he could get back on a mound in a few days.