Joey Gallo left the Texas Rangers‘ home game against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning Saturday with tightness in his left oblique.
Gallo had an MRI performed and passed some strength tests after the game.
“If there’s something in there, we’ll find out,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “I guess we’ll plan accordingly after that.”
Gallo, who homered earlier in the game, was pulled after visiting with Woodward and trainer Matt Lucero while batting with a 3-2 count. Gallo initially felt the injury in the outfield and then again on a check swing during that plate appearance. Gallo will undergo treatment and further evaluation.
Gallo hit his 17th home run of the season, tying him for the American League lead, in the fourth inning.
Gallo left Tuesday’s game at the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning with a sore right wrist and sat out Wednesday afternoon’s game there on what was a scheduled day off for him.
The Rangers brought up outfielder Zack Granite from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, but he was sent back down the following day after the team was convinced Gallo was healthy.
Gallo went into Saturday’s game leading the AL with a 1.048 OPS and an at-bats-to-home run ratio of one homer to every 10.6 at-bats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.