Nobody Panic: Injury News From Tempe 2/21

February 15, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (5) throws the baseball during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Everyone remain calm. It’s all going to be fine.

But just so everyone’s informed on the situation, here are a couple injury notes to pass your way from Angels training camp in Tempe.

Albert Pujols won’t play in any games until mid-March, according to the Twitter feed of the LA Times’ Mike DiGiovanna. Pujols had already declined to play for the Dominican Republic at next month’s World Baseball Classic because he wants to make sure he’s ready for the season following offseason knee surgery. Now it appears that knee will cause him to miss a decent chunk of the spring schedule.

Now, before your stomach gets all knotted up, Pujols and the Angels are likely just being super cautious here—as they should be. Not only will Pujols be ready for the start of the regular season, but he’s not expected to have any lingering effects of the surgery.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Ryan Madson has started throwing again following a setback three weeks ago when he felt pain in his surgically-repaired right elbow. Madson was already expected to start the year on the DL, but it’s unknown if this setback will cause his expected late-April return to be pushed back further.

Madson signed a one-year, $3.5-million deal in the offseason after missing all of last season recovering from Tommy John’s surgery while cashing checks from the Cincinnati Reds. Last year’s closer Ernesto Frieri will hold down the fort until Madson is ready.

According to the same AP report, lefty reliever Sean Burnett has still not resumed throwing after putting out his lower back earlier this week. Burnett claims that his back seems to get thrown out every spring and shouldn’t be considered much of a concern. Manager Mike Scioscia says that he could begin throwing within a week.

Burnett was one of the very best left-handed relievers in baseball last season with the Nationals and signed an extremely reasonable two-year, $8-million deal this winter.

Josh Hamilton injury watch ’13: Status—healthy. For now.

Fat Mike Trout watch ’13: Status—probably still fat.

That’s all for now.