TUCSON — Brad Hawpe emerged from the training room today smiling, the first indication that his strained left hamstring was a minor matter.
“I just felt it cramp up a little bit when I came around first, so I thought it would be best to come out,” the Rockies’ starting right fielder said early this evening. “It’s no big deal. I was going to come out the next inning anyway.”
Hawpe hit a double in the sixth inning of the Rockies’ Cactus League game against Texas at Hi Corbett Field. He appeared to glide smoothly into second base. However, Hawpe came out of the game a few moments later and immediately left the dugout. He never appeared to be in a lot of pain.
Hawpe has periodically battled leg issues during his career, spending time on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring in 2008 and a strained left hamstring in 2005. But today’s injury, he said, was nothing like those he suffered before.
“Not at all, this is no big deal,” he said.
Hawpe had been scheduled to travel to Surprise, Ariz. Saturday for a rematch against the Rangers, but he’ll miss that trip. Matt Murton is expected to start in Hawpe’s place Saturday.
“I’ll only miss a day or so,” said Hawpe, who already has missed two weeks because of a lacerated left pinky finger.
Injuries have hit the Rockies hard this spring. Starting left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis had shoulder surgery early in camp and is expected to miss the entire season.
Set-up man Taylor Buchholz suffered a strained right elbow early in the Cactus League schedule and is not expected to return until May 1 at the earliest.
Utility man Jeff Baker has missed most of the spring scheduled because of an inflamed right elbow, but he is playing again, although his throwing remains limited.
Third baseman Garrett Atkins is sidelined by a groin strain. There is no timetable for Atkins’ return, but the Rockies don’t believe he’s yet in danger of missing the season-opener on April 6.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
