Neal Cotts was one of two left-handed relievers left in big league camp on Sunday afternoon. Cotts had pitched well enough to move from minor league camp to major league camp and was in position to make the 25-man roster.
Cotts continued his strong spring Sunday night with a scoreless inning against Cleveland, but suffered what the team called: “a strain of his left lat muscle.”
The initially feedback from team physician Keith Meister is that Cotts will be sidelined a week to 10 days. That diagnosis would mean prospect Robbie Ross will be the lefty in the Rangers’ bullpen on Opening Day should the team choose to carry one.
But the Rangers cautioned that Cotts’ official diagnosis won’t be known until further tests Monday.
“It’s all speculative at this point,” assistant general manager Thad Levine said.
Cotts said he would accept an assignment to Triple A Round Rock, as he feels like he has pitched as well as he has in his career. The Rangers believe that Cotts can contribute at the big league level, too.
“He’s been throwing great,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “If he continues looking the way he’s looked this spring, I expect he’s going to pitch for us at some point this year.”
-- Drew Davison
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