Nationals catcher Yan Gomes left yesterday’s ballgame in the second inning with what appeared to be a strained oblique, per Bobby Blanco of MASNsports.com. Losing Gomes would be a significant blow for the Nationals, who already placed his backup, Alex Avila, on the injured list earlier this week. Yadiel Hernandez would currently be the Nats’ emergency catcher, though a roster move could come later today if Gomes is expected to miss any amount of time. Tres Barrera is the other option currently on the active roster. He figures to start today’s ballgame at the very least. The Nats could try to get by with just Hernandez backing up Barrera for the next couple of days with the All-Star break starting on Monday.
Now, let’s check on a couple other injury updates from around the game…
- Twins catcher Mitch Garver caught a bullpen session on Friday. Both Garver and Jake Cave could begin rehab assignments in Triple-A next week, writes MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park (via Twitter).Cave’s return would be particularly notable for the Twins, so long as Kyle Garlick, Rob Refsnyder, and Byron Buxton all remain on the injured list. Rookies Gilberto Celestino and Nick Gordon have been pushed into action in centerfield, where the 28-year-old Cave has seen the majority of his playing time over his four years with Minnesota. Cave started slowly at the dish this season, slashing just .167/.239/.262 in 93 plate appearances before a back injury sent him to the injured list on May 15th. He will be eligible for activation after the All-Star break.
- Speaking of Refsnyder and Garlick, manager Rocco Baldelli touched on their progress as well, Park adds. Refnsyder could be nearing a return from a hamstring strain, but Garlick hasn’t made much progress. He could still be facing surgery. Garlick has been out for the past month with a sports hernia after logging a perfectly average 100 wRC+ in 107 plate appearances.
- Braves right-hander Mike Soroka recently underwent successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles for the second time since he last appeared in the Majors, per The Athletic’s David O’Brien (via Twitter). It was Soroka’s third surgery in total. Soroka figures to be out until at least July 2022, though an official timetable for his recovery has not yet been made public.
Some were worried about Soroka making it back after his first Achilles tear. I wonder how hard it will be after a second major tear of the same Achilles. I wish him the best of luck, but I’m a little concerned now. Truly hate that for him.
One of the Braves podcasters had an Achilles surgeon on and his take was “no way he tore it walking in the stadium, and that after a second surgery retear possibility goes from one percent chance from the first surgery 10% after the second.” How much stock you put into it is up to you just what I listened to.
I thought about that too. If it happened walking into the club house like they said, he has a much worse outlook than many thought. I hope that guy is right if I’m reading what you wrote correctly that he now has 10% chance of reinjuring. I wasn’t sure that is what you meant, but if so it seems low. Especially after 3 surgeries, 2 major.
From what I’ve read, the recovery rate from second tears is less promising. That said, I believe Jake Burger, a former first-round pick who was just called up by the White Sox, had two Achilles surgeries (plus a separate bone bruise) and is now fine. They should take this slowly. He’s young. Don’t expect much until 2023.
As a White Sox fan who has heard Burgers story, that is a sever understatement for him being fine now. It took Burger until January of 2020 to finally not feel pain in his leg from just walking. Burger also Burger also revealed that he was dealing with depression too because of the surgeries so I would employ Braves fans to try to cheer Soroka up before that happens to him.
I’ll give him a call.
I’ve torn my achilles just by stepping up onto my back porch. It’s a really strange injury and I’ve spoken to several others who’ve done the same. When the Braves announced he’d be back pitching by mid summer, I thought no way. It’s almost as bad a surgery recovery as Tommy John. I think he was rushed and didn’t give it time enough to heal.
I don’t think he was rushed. I think he probably rushed it himself because he’s so competitive and wanted to get back out there. Either way, I’d bet money both sides take it at a snail’s pace this time just to make certain he has a future in the league.
This is a tad off subject but it seems to me that starting pitchers are getting injured more than relievers. Not sure about this but it seems that way to me.
If that is the case then at what point do you consider changing the way you use pitchers? Guys getting hurt isn’t good for anyone. Nobody wins its just a complete loss for the owner and the fans. So at what point do teams think outside the box here?
That change has been going on for a while now. Rays have very good at it this season. U limit younger guys innings in minors and majors. Keep them fresh and ready for small stents. Bring a guy up – pitch him 4/5 times in 2-5 inning stents then send em down and shelf em for a week or two. Then start that process over.
As a reds fan, I wish they wouldn’t be the last to come around every time to something like this. They have 5/6 guys who fit this role yet still manage their staff the traditional way
The Ray’s are ahead of the curve on this yes I agree. But thats a relative statement. I think baseball is entirely behind the curve here.
Why can’t pitchers pitch 3 or 4 innings at a time? I can’t explain it. Can you? They can start and pitch 5 to 9 innings. They can relieve pitching an inning or 2. Why is it nobody can pitch 3 or 4 innings?
They can. It’s whether or not they’re effective over 3-4 innings. Relievers who were failed starters come in, add effort to absolute max and expect to be able to make 10-20 pitches at that level.
If you asked the reliever to throw 40 or 50 pitches, they’d have to dial it back or risk a dead arm half way through their outing. If they dial it back, they’re not as effective. Also, you’re talking about the potential of seeing the same hitters more than once, which makes it easier to scout you which would further reduce your effectiveness.
Basically, if you can be effective for 3-4 innings, you can be effective for 6.
Teams are far more conservative than they were 25 years ago. Pitchers played through pain. Results on that were always mixed but it’s impossible to put a finger on it because it’s impossible to track.
For example teams put pitchers on the injured list for blisters more often now. Can you pitch with a blister? For sure. How good is your curveball?
Are pitchers just “getting more blisters these days!!!” or has there just been a dramatic shift in player/roster management? Having a confident answer to these questions is foolish. Impossible to say exactly.
This increase in injuries the last few years has nothing to do with blisters. It’s serious arm injuries we are talking about here.
Spot on yetipro. Teams pull pitchers from games or put them in the injured list today for a lot injuries that guys pitched through 30 years ago, even 20.
I’m not at all saying that players were tougher then than now, not in the least. There are many reasons why it’s done differently now, not the least of which is how much more money is invested in the average player now. No team is going to unnecessarily risk their multi-million dollar investments in players. Also, many more injuries are being diagnosed now: in the past pitchers were unknowingly trying to pitch through ligament tears and other issues which can now be quickly and accurately spotted.
No not right on. You guys are ignorant. Anyone can show that there has been an increase in arm injuries the last few years. It’s not small blisters it’s serious injuries. Its Tommy John surgery.
The blister issue is clearly correlative with an increase in more serious sticky substance use (spider tack, etc.).
Some of the NL injuries may be related to pitchers not hitting in 2020 and not knowing if they’d be hitting in 2021 until April. Pitchers didn’t train to run bases, etc. Manfred to the rescue (/sarc) again.
hasnt just been the last few years, this has been going on for a while now. my opinion based purely on observations:
pitching mechanics. most guys nowadays have a pretty compact windup, turn, bring everything together, stretch, throw.
now think of the guys from years past whose windups were really lose. step, arms up over the head, stetch, throw.
think of it like a car accident. if you brace yourself and become very stiff you are more likely to sustain serious injury than if your body is relaxed.
diet. this is a big one. now, I’d assume a lot of these guys may or may not be on a somewhat healthy diet, but as a society we have more unhealthy food at our disposal than in the past. it has become extremely commonplace to eat unhealthy on a regular basis. so these guys are out working their bodies HARD and the body needs nutrients to replenish itself and repair torn muscle, yet what does it have to repair with? pop tarts, burgers, and sodas?
you also have to take into consideration Im not just talking about the years they are in the pro’s, these guys have had 18+ years of their lives with these diets. think of all the years of their childhoods eating fruit loops and drinking chocolate milk for breakfast.
workload. and no, Im not talking about pitch count. Im talking about these guys today cant hardly pitch 5 innings every 5th day when guys in the past were pitching complete games every 4th day. I think guys are being babied, and coupled with the other points I mentioned, it’s just a recipe for disaster.
I remember Glavine talking during a game one time about his throwing arm hurting (can’t remember if it were offseason, preseaon, or reg season) his trainer said Ok, go throw. He was like ? his trainer said keep throwing everyday. eventually the pain went away , and well, I dont need to tell you how his career went.
lastly …pitch speed!!! everyone wants to throw 105mph every pitch. Sixto sanchez come to mind? guy couldnt hardly get past the 2nd or 3rd inning before velo and control disappeared. is it mot obvious why? These guys are out here throwing over 100 and then ending up with arm injuries and we are seriously asking why?
you look at any former (or current) MLB pitcher and they will tell you they found success when they started “pitching instead of throwing” . when they stopped worrying about velo and started hitting their spots. Maddux topped out at what, 92 93mph? he was arguably one of the greatest pitchers to ever pitch
Nothing on Strasburg? He’ll be fresh 2nd half. Watch out for him
If HOFer Refsnyder hadn’t gone on the IL, Minny would make the playoffs.
Yes, Refsnyder would definitely have pushed the Twins to the top of the division with the additional 16 wins he’d have carried them to! The guy is definitely a 20-30 WAR player… minimum!
How can they know that Soroka underwent a “successful surgery” when the last “successful surgery” failed horribly?
His leg didn’t fall off in the recovery room?
Yeah, I hate the way they phrase that. Maybe they should say complication free instead?
Maybe it’s considered a successful surgery if the doctor got paid.
He survived.
I see there’s a bit of the usual about Rob Refsnyder. I’d ask everyone on here, if fate gave you the chance to play in six seasons, make a few bucks (he’s got over two years of service time), get an at-bat in a playoff game, and maybe still have a bit of a future because you were playing well this year….you might think things weren’t all that bad.