CHICAGO – At some point as he sprinted down the first-base line Thursday, the sensation Kolten Wong felt in his left hamstring caused him to slow down just enough, he said, to avoid a more traumatic injury.
After some light work this weekend under heavy caution, second baseman Wong said he’s hoping to return to the field, in some capacity, for the Cardinals’ regular-season finale this weekend at Busch Stadium. Wong has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 tear of his left hamstring, he said, and it’s possible trying to stride through the pain will aggravate the injury.
Wong – who once again is Hilo’s only major leaguer after younger brother Kean was designated for assignment by the Rays – explained Sunday that he didn’t want to stretch now and be compromised for the postseason-bound Cardinals.
“Going in banged-up doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I don’t want to push it now and have a setback. I want to be confident that I can push. My game is speed. Range on defense. Dropping down a bunt, beating it out for a base hit. Stealing bases. Being a threat to steal bases. Taking the extra base. I don’t want to go into the playoffs limited.”
Manager Mike Shildt said that however he could help the team — starting, running, pinch-hitting — would involve the injured muscle. Asked if the strain would put Wong on the 10-day injured list if it happened any month other than September, Shildt said: “Potentially. I wouldn’t say, yes, definitely. Probably.”
Wong said the pain he feels in the leg is when he tries to get a foothold to push off — as he would making a play in the field or as he would with his left leg as he drew back to take a swing. The “good news,” as Shildt called it, was that Wong didn’t feel any of the tightness he did a year ago when he strained his hamstring. He was able to stretch, stand, and walk comfortably Saturday, and he credited what he learned last year about the injury with helping him avoid a more significant tear this season.
“I tried to push through it last year and I think I made it worse trying to finish out that run,” Wong said. “I’m not going to push it — for now. If my team needs me to be out there, I’m going to suck it up and do what I can.”
• Brandon Lowe was reinstated Sunday from the injured list by the Tampa Bay Rays, and to make room for the all-star infielder on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Kean Wong was designated for assignment.
Wong, a Waiakea High alum, got his first big league call this September after hitting .307 in 506 plate appearances in his third season with Triple-A Durham