Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the disabled list Monday because of a strained hamstring.

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No Timetable for Choo’s Return

Monday, May 23

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported on Choo’s trip to the DL. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson reported on the muddled forecast for when Choo can return to the field.

Choo has a nice blend of power, speed and defense that makes him a solid everyday starter. His 3.5 WAR rating from last year, per ESPN.com, showed he’s well above a replacement-level player.

After appearing in 149 games last season, though, Choo hit the disabled list early in the 2016 campaign because of a calf injury. That ailment was expected to keep Choo out for a longer stretch of games than the 33-year-old missed in all of 2015.

But when Choo first went down, it created a chance for 21-year-old prodigy Nomar Mazara to take over in right field.

Mazara has immense upside and has proved himself ready to roll in the big leagues, evidenced by Texas’ decision to plug him in at the No. 2 spot in the lineup for his debut and his .304 batting average entering Monday.

The Rangers therefore don’t have to rush Choo back into action. They can keep giving Mazara game reps so he can gain experience, which will expedite his development and enhance his chances of becoming a true franchise cornerstone.

Especially since he’s already gone down with a rather severe injury this year, Choo should be given maximum time to recover so he’s fit enough to help Texas on a prospective playoff push.

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