WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. >> Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has a broken right thumb and needs surgery after getting hurt in Venezuela’s 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States at the World Baseball Classic.
The Astros said Sunday they will announce a prognosis for the second baseman after the operation.
The ight-time All-Star and the 2017 American League MVP fell after he was struck by a 95.9 mph sinker from Colorado reliever Daniel Bard in the fifth inning Saturday night. Altuve grimaced as he walked off with an athletic trainer.
Altuve’s injury occurred three days after New York Mets All-Star closer Edwin Díaz sustained a season-ending knee injury during the postgame celebration of Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic. Díaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee and had surgery on Thursday.
“It appears it could be a while,” Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Sunday at spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Altuve returned for a medical examination.
Utilityman Mauricio Dubon, who batted .208 games last season, is expected to move into the Astros’ lineup to replace Altuve.
Rockies add Profar
The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $7.75 million, one-year contract with free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Profar can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, getting the full amount for 400 plate appearances, the person said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract was pending a physical.
The former Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres outfielder batted .231 (3 for 13) with a solo homer and RBI for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic this spring training.
He hit .243 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs for San Diego last season and opted out of what would have been the final season of a $21 million, three-year contract with the Padres.
Yoshida stands out
Masataka Yoshida’s performance while batting fourth for Japan in the World Baseball Classic may have earned him the cleanup spot in the Red Sox lineup.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game against the Phillies in Clearwater, Florida, on Sunday that he is zeroing in on plans for the heart of his lineup with Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez gone.
Yoshida is batting .400 with one homer and 10 RBIs for Japan, which will face Mexico in the semifinals on Monday night. He only appeared in two games for Boston this spring before heading to the WBC.
Cora said he is planning to bat Rafael Devers second and Justin Turner third.
The Red Sox are also looking for left-handed options for the bullpen to replace Joely Rodríguez, who is expected to start the season on the 15-day injured list because of an apparent injury to a muscle on his right side.
Cora said the best internal options are Ryan Sherriff, who has a 3.65 ERA in 44 innings over four seasons, and Oddanier Mosqueda, who was 5-3 with a 4.30 ERA in Double-A last year.