Rangers’ Semien (foot) hopes to play this season
ARLINGTON, Texas — Marcus Semien is still hopeful of playing again this season for the playoff-chasing Texas Rangers, even though the second baseman is only three weeks removed from fouling off a pitch that left him with a broken bone and sprained ligament in his left foot.
Semien is no longer wearing a protective boot on his foot, and he said Wednesday that he has been walking on an in-pool treadmill. The 34-year-old said he has been able to move around without limping while doing lower-body work to get his legs back in shape after his extended time of inactivity.
“Preparing to just get moving again. Talking to the doctors, in a perfect world, I think six weeks is what you probably need. But right now with where we’re at, just trying to push it,” Semien said. “I think once we get to this road trip and get through some checkpoints, come back home and see how we see how running looks, and go from there.”
Texas played the finale of a three-game series at home Wednesday against Milwaukee, which has the best record in the majors. The Rangers, who started the day 2 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Houston and 1 1/2 games behind the final wild-card spot, open a three-game series at the New York Mets on Friday before three games at the Astros next week.
The Rangers then return for their final homestand, starting Sept. 19 against Miami. At that point, four weeks after Semien got hurt, there will be only nine games left in the regular season.
“At four weeks, there’s still some risk. But, you know, I’m willing to see what I can do and see if there’s a realistic chance of me getting back on the field,” he said. “Regardless, I will work as hard as I can to get back as quick as I can. But the team’s playing great, it’s been fun to watch. A lot of energy out there and I want to be a part of that.”
Semien fouled a pitch off his foot on Aug. 20 at Kansas City and went on the 10-day injured list two days later. It is only the second time in his 13 big league seasons to go on the IL.
Before the injury, Semien had missed only six of the Rangers’ 615 games since joining them before the 2022 season on a $175 million, seven-year contract. He has hit .230 with 15 homers, 62 RBI and 62 runs in 127 games this year.
Wisconsin will start true freshman quarterback Carter Smith at No. 2 Indiana on Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, replacing Danny O’Neil after the sophomore was carted off the field with a right leg injury last week.
O’Neil was injured on a 21-yard keeper during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 13-10 win over then-No. 23 Washington. He had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room.
Smith made his season debut following O’Neil’s injury, completing 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Also available to the Badgers at quarterback is senior Hunter Simmons, who is 48-for-95 for 485 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
For Indiana, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is doubtful to play, sources said. Sarratt, who is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions, injured his hamstring against Maryland on Nov. 1 and missed the Penn State game last week.
With Indiana having a bye next week, Sarratt is on track to return against Purdue on Nov. 28.
Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin all season and throughout coach Luke Fickell’s three-year tenure.
Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the season, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ opener and has played only one full series since.
Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand in 2023. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the 2024 season.
Wisconsin’s intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of the 34 games the Badgers have played since the beginning of the 2023 season. The last time Fickell had his season-opening starting quarterback healthy for a full game was in a 27-13 victory over South Dakota on Sept. 7, 2024.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava will not play Saturday against No. 1 Ohio State because of a concussion, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Iamaleava was injured during last week’s loss to Nebraska. He began experiencing concussion symptoms after the game, according to On3, which first reported that Iamaleava would not play.
With Iamaleava out, redshirt sophomore Luke Duncan will make his first career start. Duncan has not attempted a pass in college as he tries to take down the top-ranked Buckeyes.
Iamaleava has thrown for 1,659 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first year with the Bruins after transferring from Tennessee.
He led UCLA to three straight wins in October, including a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State, but the Bruins (3-6) have lost two straight and need to win out to become bowl eligible.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024