Astros' Bregman takes off following back stiffness

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman left Wednesday's spring training game against the Miami Marlins because of back stiffness. Bregman will sit out Thursday but could return to the lineup as soon as Friday, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters.

"He took a swing in his one at-bat and had a little bit of back stiffness," Hinch said in comments published by ESPN.com. "He sort of begged and pleaded to stay in the game, but I took him out." The Astros plan to be careful with the 24-year-old star, who had surgery on his right elbow in January.

Bregman is coming off his first All-Star season in which he hit .286 with 31 home runs and 103 RBIs in 157 games. He also stole 10 bases in 14 attempts.