Surgery for Baughman

Second baseman Justin Baughman, who broke his leg in five places in a collision during a Mexican Winter League game last November, is likely facing more surgery and his chances for returning this season could be in doubt.

“It’s not healing the way we’d like and we’re looking at ways of stimulating things,” team physician Lewis Yocum said. “Right now, we’re presenting him with three or four surgical options. It’s not anything Justin has done, it’s just the nature of the fracture. It was a pretty ugly injury, and we’re not happy with the way it’s healing.”

Baughman, whose speed is key to his future in the major leagues, said he was frustrated and disappointed, but not devastated by the news.

“Surgery just means an incision, it could be something as minor as removing the screws,” he said. “Whatever we do, it will be to promote [bone] growth and get it healed as fast as possible. If we did nothing at all, it would still probably heal, just not as fast.

“I’ve always had higher expectations about how soon I could return than most people. I was hoping for sometime in June. Now, I guess the chances of that aren’t very good.”

Baughman said he will get opinions from a couple more doctors early next week and a decision should be made by the middle of the week.

Reliever Mike Holtz, who hit a batter, walked two and gave up three hits and five runs while getting only one out Friday against the White Sox, was philosophical the morning after. “It was one of those days when I felt like I’d never pitched before in my life,” he said. “I felt like I was pitching from 90 feet away. There’s no explaining it. My first few outings, I was really dialed in, I was right there. So I’m just going to block it out and pretend it never happened.”