TODAY: The official diagnosis on Springer is a mild concussion, Luhnow told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart). The Astros hope to have Springer back in action by early next week, assuming he is medically cleared.
Sept. 4: Astros president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow appeared on the Sean Salisbury Show on SportsTalk 790 AM today (audio link) and indicated that while things are “looking positive” following initial tests, the nature of head and neck injuries makes it difficult to draw conclusions until 24 to 48 hours have passed. It doesn’t sound like there’ll be any definitive status update on Springer’s condition until the hours leading up to tomorrow’s game.
Sept. 3: Astros center fielder George Springer was carted of the field in tonight’s game following a collision with the center-field wall, and manager A.J. Hinch said after tonight’s game that Springer is being evaluated for a head injury and will travel back to Houston with the club tonight (Twitter link, with video, via MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart). For the time being, the Astros are listing Springer as day-to-day, but he’s still slated to undergo a series of additional tests.
Springer made an outstanding grab of a deep drive to center field off the bat of Ryan Braun, but fell to the ground hard and appeared to strike his head against the base of the wall at Miller Park (video link). Hinch and several teammates were with Springer as he lay on the warning track for a few minutes until the cart arrived to help him off the field. Right fielder Josh Reddick said after the game that Springer never lost consciousness and seemed alert following the collision (video link via McTaggart).
First place in the AL West is a veritable certainty for the Astros at this point, given their 10-game lead over second-place Oakland, but a concussion or any other head injury of note for Springer would be of significant concern with postseason play set to begin in roughly a month. The 29-year-old Springer has been among the league’s most productive hitters, posting a .297/.389/.573 batting line with 30 homers, 19 doubles and three triples despite missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
Houston’s lineup went through a spell where it was without several key players due to injury, but the Astros were nearly at full strength entering play tonight. Carlos Correa remains sidelined by a back injury but hit off a tee earlier today (Twitter link via the Houston Chronicle’s Chandler Rome). He’s expected to return in the relatively near future, but Springer’s now-uncertain status gives the Houston organization and its fans another key injury situation to monitor.
I wasn’t even looking at his head I thought he twisted his ankle
they should put netting around the warning track
I’m all for dark jokes but whew! that’s a rabbit hole of cover ups!
He will be back for the postseason. I Predict Astros/Braves in the World Series.
Lets ruin baseball more.
Yes, why would we want our best players to be healthy? That would ruin the game!
I agree nstale because a child gettin smoked by a 105mph foul ball when they aren’t looking is EXACTLY like a player running into a wall.
There’s no crying in baseball!
Adequate padding in the right places should be enough. Just find the places where players have been hurt hitting by hard surfaces and pad them.
@bigfred
I agree with you. They should place padding from the bottom to about 3 or 4 feet high, or the whole wall if possible.
Springer injured himself the same way that Clint Frazier did when he was concussed. He made a diving catch with his back to the wall and slammed his head at the bottom of the wall. People have been cavalier about it but that’s a really, really dangerous thing to happen. He can snap his neck or have a serious concussion.
Frazier was a decent defensive OF but hasn’t been the same defensively. I wonder if he’s completely healed in terms of his vision and is hiding it because he’s 25 and wants to play.
I hope Springer is ok and heals quickly.
It looked more of his neck that he hurt than his head.
Wishing for the best possible outcome for George.
A player’s best ability, is availability. Poor dude is like Mr. Glass.
No, thats Correa. Springer is fragile though.
Guy has played 140+ games the past 3 seasons. Not sure where you are getting Mr Glass from. Correa on the other hand
Prayers up!
if you ask ryan.braun why he hit the ball, he’ll deny he did
if you say there is evidence, he’ll get you fired
when you show him the video, he’ll have his publicist write up an apology.
Perhaps the single greatest post. Ever.
Braun, the scummiest of all the scumbags.
While I’d like home field advantage, I really just want health. Springer should be fine.
I hope Correa and Pressly come back at top form. If so, the Astros could actually go into the playoffs with their complete roster. That would be amazing.
If this had happened to a player on the Yankees ESPN would interrupt all prime time programming and have 2 hour special “ Yankees, Team in Crises” with expert analysis from Dick Enberg, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Jim Palmer, Curt Gowdy and Mel Allen. How about that?
They ARE the center of the universe….in their minds.
The only exception is no way they break into a Yanks RedSox game, since the nation is so rivoted by every pitch and what gems Suzyn Waldman will say on the air next.
@HaloHonk4Life
Does this Yankee envy have no limits? No need to imagine kiddo. It DID happen to a Yankee and his name is Clint Frazier. He was concussed on the exact play that injured Springer. He was tracking a fly-ball leaped in the air to catch with his back to the wall, caught it and slammed his head into the bottom of the wall.
https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-clint-frazier-has-mild-concussion-c267299810
Lol it’s been happening all season bro where have you been? They’ve set a major lead record with all the injuries. It’s been a storyline to this season.
*MLB inserts net around Miller Park warning track*
At least he was able to be looked at by the team doctors. I’m sure they are taking every precaution. I would rather them be safer than sorry and keep him out a few more games longer than necessary. I read somewhere that Miller Park has a longer warning track than a lot of other ballparks but not sure if that would have played a difference since Springer is one of those players that goes all out. Regardless, head/neck injuries are never something to joke about. Hope everything turns out okay..
It is hard to believe how lightly medical professionals took concussions in the not so distant past.
The brain requires as much time as it requires before someone can be expected to come back. No timeline can be given because it is so much different then a bone or ligament when it heals.
I hope they don’t rush him back and he ends up a partial vegetable like Larry Danders. Larry had all the tools but after his injury, he was never the same. I don’t want us to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Hopefully he bounces back that soon
Astros keep getting hurt while the Yankees continue to get healthier. Going to be interesting during the playoffs.
We should have a class where outfielders can learn to wall-run á la Bo Jackson as part of training.