Cameron Newell has tried to take his fluky injuries in stride.
He was on the disabled list from July 2-14 with a hand problem.
He was back in the RailCats’ lineup Monday night, leading off as the designated hitter, after being on the DL since Aug. 1. He had been out of the lineup ever since fouling a ball off his shin at Texas in the final game before the All-Star break, also spraining his ankle as he fell down.
Newell had been slated to return in left field Thursday when the RailCats’ resumed their schedule, but he was a late scratch when he aggravated his foot during batting practice.
“It’s frustrating in that it’s disrupted my rhythm a little bit,” Newell said before the RailCats opened a three-game series at the Steel Yard against American Association-leading St. Paul. “The two stints that were bumps in the road, I was feeling good at the plate. That was unfortunate, but it’s part of the game. You can’t get caught up in it, you have to move on and be ready to step back in whenever your name is called.
“It feels good. Every day it’s getting better.”
While Newell has been on the mend, two pitchers who figured prominently for the RailCats in recent days are dealing with elbow issues.
The team on Monday released right-hander Diosdany Castillo. And right-hander Karl Triana, fresh off his franchise-record 14 strikeouts Friday against Winnipeg, will be bumped from his scheduled start Tuesday.
Castillo, a Cuban defector who at one time was part of that country’s national team, felt a twinge Sunday. He allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings in two appearances with the RailCats.
Castillo headed back to Tampa, Fla., for further examination, and was expected to be out at least two weeks, manager Greg Tagert said. Before signing with the RailCats, Castillo last had pitched more than a month ago in Mexico.
“You trust that they’re ready when they get here,” Tagert said. “But the availability to throw in Mexico was limited, and then you get put in this position with the intensity of the game changing.”
Triana had to cut short his usual bullpen session Monday. Earlier in the day, the Colombian was named the American Association Pitcher of the Week.
“He’s still sore from that last outing, and it’s not the usual place in the shoulder or some of the aching muscles you might have,” Tagert said. “It’s certainly cause for concern.”
Travis McGee could take Triana’s start Tuesday.
Newell, who is set to play left field on Tuesday, was batting .305 when he went down. The RailCats could use his bat to boost an offense that scored 10 runs and hit .187 in a four-game sweep at the hands of wild-card leading Winnipeg.
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“It doesn’t come down to one guy,” Newell said. “We had a good meeting (Monday), and just talked about the identity of this team and what we need to improve and work on going forward this next month.
“We’re not out of the playoff picture at all. It’s just getting started, it’s just heating up. I’m just excited to get back in the lineup and help the team any way I can.”
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Up next: St. Paul (Dan Johnson 2-2) at RailCats (TBA), 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, WEFM-FM 95.9.