2/18/2002

Drew goes down

By Patrick Mulrenin
MLB.com

Despite the fact that games have not begun, Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew was bitten by the injury bug once again in his career.

While shagging fly balls in the outfield during an unofficial batting practice, Drew slipped and sprained his left ankle. He rode back to the clubhouse area in a golf cart and had precautionary X-Rays taken, which were negative. Drew limped out of the facility without the aid of crutches and at this point is day-to-day.

Team officials do not believe this is a serious injury that will prevent Drew from missing significant time during Spring Training.

While position players are not scheduled to officially arrive until Tuesday, Drew checked into Jupiter, Florida early on Monday. Coaches Dave McKay and Mitchell Page conducted batting practice with some of the early arriving position players at one of the practice fields surrounding Roger Dean Stadium.

Drew has yet to play a full season over his three-year Major League career without injury. Last season, a broken right pinky finger kept him out of the lineup for 35 games from mid-June through July. One week after he returned, Drew suffered a lower back sprain that kept him out for 12 games.

In 2000, Drew sprained his left ankle and missed 15 games. In his first full big league season, Drew missed time from mid-May through June after he strained his right quadriceps.

Drew had a career-year last season, hitting .323 with 27 home runs, 73 RBIs, 121 hits and 80 runs scored in 109 games. There is no question that the 26-year-old outfielder is on the cusp of being one of the brightest stars in the league. It's just a matter of whether or not he can stay healthy for a full season. In addition to Drew's early arrival, infielders Placido Polanco, Miguel Cairo and Edgar Renteria checked into camp a day before position players are required to be in attendance. Polanco is expected to compete for a spot in the outfield this season, as well as fill in at shortstop, second base and third base when needed.

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