Brandon Nimmo Limped Out of Rangers Win and Says He's Ready to Go Friday

The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 3-0 on Wednesday in Arlington, but they might've lost something more valuable in the process. Right fielder Brandon Nimmo exited the game in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness, though the outfielder is already making noise about suiting up for Friday's matchup at Detroit.

How It Happened

Nimmo got hurt doing what he does best: hustling. He beat out a fifth-inning single off first baseman Ben Rice's glove, then things got worse when he went from second to third on a groundout by Joc Pederson. That's when the hamstring really started barking at him. Sam Haggerty came in as a pinch runner and took over in left field, with Alejandro Osuna shifting to right.

It wasn't the way you want to leave a game, especially not three weeks into your tenure with a new team.

Nimmo's Optimistic Take

"I'm not concerned about it," Nimmo said after the game. "It just is something that, if you continue to push through, can turn into something bigger."

He's being smart about it. The Rangers have Thursday off, which gives him a cushion. Nimmo said he anticipates being available to play right field on Friday, though he acknowledged they might use the DH if they were playing Thursday to keep him fresh.

This is the cautious veteran approach from a guy who's seen the injury bug up close. Nimmo came to Texas in a November trade from the Mets, swapped for Marcus Semien, and he's been putting up solid numbers in his first month with the Rangers. He's hitting .290 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 31 games.

The Bigger Picture

What makes this injury scare even more relevant is Nimmo's track record with the Mets. He missed a combined 39 games over the past four seasons, so the Rangers know they can't take hamstring issues lightly with him. In his final season in New York, though, Nimmo proved he could stay healthy when it matters: 25 homers, 92 RBIs, and a career-high 155 games played.

If he can string together games like that in Texas, this hamstring hiccup will be forgotten quickly. Friday at Detroit will tell us a lot.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.