Rangers' designated hitter Joc Pederson fractures his right hand in a game against the White Sox
CHICAGO (AP) — The depleted Texas Rangers lost Joc Pederson when he was hit by a pitch on Saturday, breaking his right hand.
Leading off the fourth inning, Pederson was hit by an 87.5 mph cutter from White Sox right-hander Bryse Wilson. Pederson went down right after he was hit, but the designated hitter stayed in the game and eventually scored on Marcus Semien’s sacrifice fly.
The 33-year-old Pederson, who signed a $37 million, two-year contract with Texas in December, was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fifth.
Speaking after the Rangers’ 10-5 loss to the White Sox, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that Pederson had a fracture in his right hand.
“Bad break there,” Bochy said. “We’re having tough luck keeping guys on the field. So he’s going to be out for a while.”
Pederson got hurt on the same day that Rangers shortstop Corey Seager faced live pitching in another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Seager could return to Texas’ lineup as soon as next week.
