ARLINGTON, Texas _ Joey Gallo has been fighting a sore tendon behind his left knee since spring training but hopes four days off during the All-Star break will help it improve.
He was in the lineup for the Rangers' first-half finale on Sunday despite it flaring up again a few days ago during a pinch-running appearance.
"It's a lingering thing, but I'll try to play through it," said Gallo, who last started on Wednesday. "I pinch-ran the other day and I felt it hurting a lot again. And then the other day it started locking up on me and popping so I just I didn't want to make this worse because I don't know what it is. I'm just trying to be safe about it."
The popliteus tendon is located behind the knee and can cause pain and discomfort.
"Athletes with this injury typically have tight hamstrings," According to the website sportsinjuryclinic.net. "If the injury is severe, then straightening the knee fully will be difficult."
Gallo said the injury was one of the reasons why he declined an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby before the All-Star Game in Miami.
"I knew I was battling this so I didn't want to go to Miami a little sore and have to take 300 swings," he said. "I'm trying to be smart about it."
Manager Jeff Banister hopes the break helps.
"I don't know if we'll completely knock it out. It's something we've been managing since spring training. It's part of the process of playing at this level on an every day basis," Banister said.
