Astros report: Villar, Grossman OK after outfield collision

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Right fielder Robbie Grossman suffered a right quad contusion when Jonathan Villar - a shortstop by trade who is learning the outfield and started in center on Wednesday - collided with him while making a sliding catch in right-center in the Astros' 7-1 win at the Phillies' Bright House Field.

In robbing Chase Utley with the fourth-inning web gem, Villar took out Grossman's legs in the process.

Villar has a mild right ankle sprain. Both players, who are having strong springs and battling to make the roster, are to be re-evaluated Thursday.

"When they both got up, you know it's obviously a good sign," manager A.J. Hinch said. "But you never want to see your players collide. But it cost us a little bit, in terms of banging two players into each other that are doing everything they can to leave with us to Houston."

Right after the play, Grossman was visited by trainer James Ready and Hinch. Both watched Grossman test his legs briefly, and he was left in the game. But neither player took the field in the fifth inning.

"Just like a dead leg," Grossman said of the feeling he suffered. "Charlie horse, whatever. … It's part of the game. It's going to happen."

Grossman said he was impacted right above the knee, adding, "Thank God it was higher."

Said Villar: "I hurt a little bit my ankle. I took a couple of innings off today, and I might be ready for tomorrow and make practice and the next day for games."

Hinch said he believed there wasn't much that could have been done to prevent the collision in terms of communication and absolved Villar of any wrongdoing as a new outfielder.

"We talked a little bit about it, but that just happens," Grossman said. "It's part of the game. He caught the ball and made an out. That's about it."

Grossman and Villar both finished 1-for-3. The former is hitting .385 this spring, the latter .286.

Villar had another fantastic catch in the first inning, making a fully extended dive just shy of the warning track in right-center to rob Freddy Galvis

"I always think Villar is going to make every catch," Hinch said. "This guy, he is quite an athlete. And he does everything on a baseball field that you can ask him to do. Nothing surprises me with him. I think he has some unique skills to ad-lib as he needs to make plays."

Conger makesgood impression

Hank Conger hit his first home run of the spring and Carlos Correa his second in back-to-back fashion against Phillies righty Miguel Gonzalez in the fourth inning.

Correa drove one to left - and by the sound of the bat on the ball, he didn't hit it as hard as he could have.

Conger, a lefthanded hitter, followed two pitches later with a shot to right for a 4-0 Astros lead.

"I told him I was going to leave him in as long as I had to to watch him," manager A.J. Hinch said of Conger. "But he caught the whole game. I thought he worked our guys very, very well. He had a couple key pitch calls that got us out of a couple runners-on-base situations.

"I thought he swung the bat very well. He had a great baserunning play that'll go unnoticed, so he had a good all-around day."

Oberholtzer back on mound

Southpaw Brett Oberholtzer returned from a left lat strain, starting in a Class AAA game at Kissimmee. He pitched 22⁄3 innings.

The next step will likely be a Grapefruit League start, perhaps against the Braves on March 31 in the second-to-last game before the Astros leave Florida.

Oberholtzer has pitched in just two Grapefruit League games, the last on March 10. Getting stretched out will be key, but he has some time. His first start of the year as the presumed fourth man in the rotation wouldn't come until the Astros' second series of the year, in Arlington against the Rangers from April 10-12.

Fields hopefulfor opener

The next few days will be crucial in determining Josh Fields' availability for the start of the regular season. The reliever suffered a right groin strain Monday at home against the Braves and at least for a short time is not to throw from the mound.

Asked if the injury were still considered minor, manager A.J. Hinch said it's "minor as inactive can be." The manager also said there isn't reason to believe Fields can't be available for the April 6 opener.

Fields, 29, quietly emerged as a reliable force in the pen last season. After a brief May demotion, he posted a 2.32 ERA in 40 appearances the rest of the way, with 55 strikeouts and 10 walks in 422⁄3 innings. His September was cut short because of an oblique injury.

Some progressfor Peacock

Brad Peacock's first Grapefruit League game of the spring could come Sunday at home against the Yankees. He pitched in a minor league game Wednesday as he builds up strength.

Peacock had a late start to spring because of offseason surgery on his right hip and won't be ready for opening day. But the Astros hope he can return to the rotation sometime in April.

Odds and ends

With six games left in the Grapefruit League season, the Astros still have a chance at their first winning spring since 2007. They're 10-8-3. … Manager A.J. Hinch is undecided on his starting pitcher for the third game of the season. Collin McHugh will pitch in either that game, which is the last of three against the Indians, or the next, which is the first of three against the Rangers. "His regular rest would be the third game of the year," Hinch said. "An extra day's rest going into the season would be the fourth game of the year."

Evan Drellich