Carl Crawford leaves minor league game with ‘minor’ shoulder injury

In today’s installment of back at the ranch, the news ain’t good. The Dodgers said it’s not really bad either, but it was enough for concern.

Carl Crawford, one of four Dodgers left behind at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix while the team opens the season in Australia, left a minor league game after one at-bat because of a sore right shoulder.

The Dodgers said it was “very minor.” He felt it during a strikeout and he was removed for precautionary reasons.

Crawford, who remained behind while waiting for his fiancée to give birth, previously had missed most of the 2012 season after Tommy John surgery and then wrist surgery, both to his left arm.

He is one of four quality outfielders the Dodgers will have to find playing time for this season, assuming all four are healthy at the same time. No easy to assumption to make after last season, when it happened only twice.

Otherwise, the action in a triple-A game against the Mariners on Tuesday wasn’t too great, either. Right-hander Dan Haren went 4 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs and five hits, two that were home runs. He walked one and struck out six.

Matt Kemp continued to struggle, going hitless in three at-bats. Reliever Brandon League is still in search of his command; he went one inning, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks.