Trumbo on remaining patient in recovery from quad injury

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo isn't going to rush the process in his recovery from a strained right quadriceps muscle. He won't create a specific timetable for his return, seeing no benefit in setting himself up for disappointment.

Trumbo is headed to the disabled list with a Grade 2 strain, opening up the designated hitter slot while closing his chances of playing on opening day. The early estimates have him missing at least three to four weeks.

"I don't think it's beneficial to try to look forward to something in a short amount of time," he said this morning while sitting at his locker, an electronic stimulation treatment device attached to his leg.

"Ideally, I'm ready to go in three weeks and contributing, but I think I need to be a little bit smarter and really make sure I'm ready to go."

Trumbo was sidelined for a week before attempting to play in Wednesday's game against the Yankees. He went 0-for-3 with a walk as the designated hitter and underwent an MRI the following day that revealed the extent of his injury.

"I don't know how surprised (I am)," he said. "It's just unfortunate in a number of ways, but it's kind of hard to tell exactly where you're at until you're going full speed and I think that was the case here.

"I wouldn't say it felt good as it has when I'm 100 percent, but at the end of the day, with where we're at in spring, it's important to get the at bats. You're kind of taught to fight through and get out there, and that was kind of where my mind was at. I was hoping it would hold up and be good enough to allow me to get the reps needed to perform, but when I got home that night it simply didn't respond too well."

With opening day no longer in play, Trumbo will exhibit the necessary patience to avoid any setbacks. Told about the three- to four-week minimum projection, he replied, "It could be longer than that."

"(Patience) is very important," he said. "You can't be looking to go the other way at any point. However long it takes is what it takes, because it's one of those things that can really nag and nag. So, we've got to make sure we get it right and whatever timeframe that is, I'll deal with it."

Trumbo might stay in Sarasota to continue rehabbing while the Orioles head to Norfolk for their final exhibition against their Triple-A affiliate and begin the regular season on March 29 in Baltimore.

"I don't know yet," he said. "I've got to figure that out."