Grudzielanek returns to Kansas City for exam on sore back
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | Veteran second baseman Mark Grudzielanek returned Thursday to Kansas City to undergo what the Royals characterize as a precautionary examination to determine the cause of tightness in his lower back.
Grudzielanek, 37, has not played since Monday’s 15-6 victory over the Giants but told club officials that he felt better Thursday than on Wednesday. Even so, the Royals opted to send him to Kansas City for an examination today by Steve Joyce, the club’s chief physician.
“I’m not really concerned,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He’s had this before. If this was the regular season, it wouldn’t be a (disabled-list) situation.
“But rather than be aggressive with it, because it’s March 13, we decided to send him back to see Dr. Joyce because Dr. Joyce has always evaluated him in the past.”
Grudzielanek is expected to return Saturday to camp. He missed time last year while recovering from two separate surgeries to repair cartilage in his left knee.
The Royals sought to minimize injury concerns by allowing him to determine his game-readiness. He didn’t play until March 7 and is zero for six in three games with two errors.
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