The injury news keeps coming for the Houston Astros.
Carlos Correa was scratched from Thursday’s Grapefruit League game with a stiff neck, adding yet another name to a growing list of health concerns for a club that can ill afford them right now.
The timing is particularly uncomfortable. With Jeremy Peña now officially out of the World Baseball Classic after fracturing the tip of his right ring finger Wednesday, the Astros were already facing questions about infield depth heading into the regular season. Correa, who was the most natural contingency option at shortstop in Peña’s absence, is now dealing with his own issue.
A stiff neck in spring training is generally considered minor, and there is no reason at this point to believe Correa’s absence is anything more than a precautionary scratch. But for a fanbase that has watched injuries derail one too many Astros seasons in recent years, it is an unwelcome development in an already difficult week.
The Astros have not provided a timeline for Correa’s return to game action.