Mark Teixeira Hurts Arm Hitting Off Tee, Will Miss World Baseball Classic

by Zack Cox on Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 7:19PM

Mark Teixeira may want to think of a better story for his most recent injury.

The Yankees first baseman strained his right forearm Tuesday while hitting batting practice off a tee before Team USA’s exhibition game with the Chicago White Sox, FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi reports. The injury will reportedly sideline Teixeira for seven to 10 days, ruling him out for the World Baseball Classic.

Though he’s expected to return well before opening day, this injury can’t come as good news for the Yankees, who have already seen center fielder Curtis Granderson go down with an arm injury of his own during spring training.

Utility man Ben Zobrist filled in for Teixeira for Team USA in Tuesday’s tune-up, which ended in a 4-4 tie, but the team is expected add another true first baseman — preferably a lefty or switch hitter — before its tournament opener against Mexico on Friday.