The Mariners announced today that first baseman Ryon Healy underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right hand and will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Depending on which end of that timeline Healy’s recovery ultimately falls, the procedure could put his Opening Day status in jeopardy. Healy underwent the procedure yesterday and is beginning rehab immediately, per the announcement.
It’s a fairly short-term injury for the Mariners that isn’t likely to spur the team to make any kind of addition to its roster, as Dan Vogelbach and Rule 5 pick Mike Ford (selected out of the Yankees organization) remain on hand as first base options on the 40-man roster. Both hitters performed quite well in the upper minors least season and could reasonably be expected to bridge the gap at first base until Healy’s hand allows him to return to the lineup.
Seattle sent right-hander Emilio Pagan and minor league infielder Alexander Campos to the division-rival Athletics exactly three months ago in a trade to acquire Healy, who had been largely displaced by the booming emergence of Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, as well as Oakland’s desire to shift Khris Davis from left field to designated hitter.
Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said after the trade that the organization views Healy, who batted .282/.313/.475 with 38 homers through his first 888 MLB plate appearances with the A’s, as a potential long-term option at first base. He’s slated to serve as Seattle’s primary first baseman in 2018, and today’s announcement doesn’t figure to change that. In the short term, though, the injury to Healy could improve Ford’s chances of making the Major League roster.
Is anyone really surprised?
Why do you say that?
I mean I don’t think most people woke up and thought to themselves, “You know what I think is gonna happen today? I think Ryon Healy is gonna miss 4-6 weeks.”
I think this website posted am article stating that he was dealing with an injury not too long ago, so wouldn’t be shocked
I guess the question I have is if this is a new injury or is it lingering where it could/should have come up on a pre-trade physical.
So the injury train starts before the regulars begin spring training. What the hell.
Doubt we get a 1B, Ford vs. Vogie for the start of the season and then we will get Healy back at some point in April.
Ford for RoY, what odds do I get?
This isn’t the way they had hope the season would begin.
It’s not that large of an injury. Healy will miss most of spring training, but at the worst, he would miss the first week or so of the regular season. I wouldn’t worry that much.
So a bone spur isn’t something that just happened. Why do they wait until now to take care of this? Now he will miss spring training. Typical Mariners……
A lot of bone spurs show no symptoms and go undetected until found through procedures being done for other reasons.
It is perfectly plausible that it was found by “accident” or it recently started showing symptoms, no matter long he had it.
Why do people make uniformed comments? Typical Seattle fan.
See how silly something like that sounds?
It was reported he has been dealing with the discomfort for quite a while and it happened during off season training. So it didn’t just happen.
People are freaking out, yet he’s gonna be playing his first game of the season like in the 2nd week lmao.
I have seen some writers predicting SEA as a wild card team, I just don’t see it. Their pitching is terrible. Paxton is a stud but health is a issue.
Paxton has been unlucky with injuries- in his 171 inning season his season was cut short by a ball hit back to the mound, he’s had a fingernail issue one season- last year was really the first year that was cut short from a muscular/tendon issue. You may say Seattle or Paxton creates his own luck but I choose to think Paxton has just as good a chance to have a good season as any top 10 pitcher
Well looks like we’re starting the season off on the right foot
don’t you mean hand?
I think Hanley Ramirez is available to play First. Probably relatively reasonable also.
If we spend any more cash at all it should be on a SP like L Lynn or A Cobb
It’s not like Healy is going to miss 3/4ths of the season. At the most, he might miss the first week of the regular season.
Why on Earth would Hanley be the next best option. There are other 1st base option internally to fill while Healy gets 100%.
it’s weird that this was not found prior to the trade happening and it is weird right at the moment where health was a focal point for this organization; that we even upgraded our personnel for this issue. So stupid.
The biggest loss in this is valuable time for him to make adjustments that might allow him to make better contact with breaking balls and learn how to lay off those that are outside.
Great opportunity for Ford. If he rakes, maybe Healy will get some time in Tacoma before being asked to contribute.
Nelson Cruz to 1B
Why would you put him on the first base instead of DH.
On the bright side, at least Healy’s bone spurs have assured him that he won’t have to serve in Vietnam. So he’s got that going for him, which is nice.
The fact of the matter is the offense is fine, Healey will product. If your a real mariners fan you’re just happy there has been no pitching injuries…..yet. Please baseball gods leave us alone.
I’m glad you’re here to tell everyone what are the criterias for being a real Mariners fan….mind you yes our pitchers have not received an injurt but this is still a position player who is supposed to boost our offense. He’s just as important as any pitcher getting hurt.
False.
Healy will not make or break their season.