CHICAGO _ Far away from the two Detroit Tigers postponements this week, right fielder J.D. Martinez has been recovering from a mid-right foot sprain.
On Monday, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Martinez's cast was removed for the first time.
"They took the cast off and did some therapy," Ausmus said.
It was considered the next step in his progression back from a right mid-foot sprain, sustained March 18 in a Grapefruit League game. A week after his injury, the Tigers estimated he would be out 3-5 weeks. He is currently on the 10-day disabled list.
"He said they worked on it pretty good yesterday," Ausmus said. "I think it was just moving it around, manipulating it, loosening it up.
For Martinez's month-long absence, the Tigers are going with a platoon of Tyler Collins and Mikie Mahtook in rightfield. As of Tuesday evening, the possibility lingered that leftfielder Justin Upton could miss a game or two. He is considered day-to-day with a left knee contusion.
