12:08pm: Garrett is heading back to Washington D.C. to have additional testing, including an MRI, performed on his fractured fibula, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com. Surgery is a possibility, it seems. The severity of the fracture will determine both the treatment and potential timeline for recovery.
Aug. 24, 9:40am: The Nationals announced this morning that Garrett has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left fibula. No timetable for his return was provided. Infielder Jeter Downs was recalled from Triple-A Rochester in his place.
Aug. 23: In an unfortunate scene this evening at Yankee Stadium, Nationals’ corner outfielder Stone Garrett suffered a potentially serious left leg injury. Playing right field, Garrett tracked a DJ LeMahieu fly ball that cleared the fence for a home run (video provided by Talkin’ Yanks). Garrett leaped to try to pull the ball back. His cleat appeared to catch in the padding of the right field wall, and he was in obvious pain after landing.
Trainers placed Garrett’s leg in an air cast and carted him off the field. After the game, manager Dave Martinez said the club was still awaiting word on the injury’s severity (link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). Garrett underwent x-rays at Yankee Stadium and will soon head for an MRI. Martinez said the club believes the injury to be to the outfielder’s lower leg as opposed to his ankle.
Garrett, 27, has been a solid contributor for Washington this season. He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks late last year, appearing in 26 games. He elected free agency after Arizona designated him for assignment at the start of the offseason. Garrett caught on with the Nats on a major league contract and has tallied 271 plate appearances.
The right-handed hitter owns a .269/.343/.457 line with nine home runs. He’s striking out over 30% of the time and has benefitted from a lofty .365 average on balls in play, but he’s making plenty of hard contact and walking at a quality 9.6% clip. Garrett at least looks like a potential rotational outfield option with power — particularly when holding the platoon advantage. Between his brief stint in Arizona and this year’s work, Garrett has slugged .524 with nine homers in 193 MLB plate appearances versus left-handed pitching.
This is Garrett’s first full season at the major league level. He is under club control for five-plus seasons and won’t qualify for arbitration until after the 2025 campaign at the earliest.
Serious bummer. He was rapidly becoming a favorite with Nats fans. Hope he is not badly hurt and recovers soon. It looked pretty painful though.
I feel like Nats fans are losing patience and anointing just about anyone (Thomas, Garret, Joey) as one of our guys.
In reality, Thomas is the only outfielder with half a shot at being a long term piece, and his controlability is a major hurdle.
Anyway, speedy recovery to Garrett. He’s given us something to cheer for on this transitory team, even if he’s a depth option in a vacuum.
Garrett is the same age as Thomas and was a 2 WAR player in sub 300 PAs… he’s a possible piece
The Nats are looking pretty good these days and I believe their rebuild is ahead of schedule. At this rate, they’ll be out of their rebuild and contending again before KC, Oakland, Detroit, Chisox, Colorado and most likely the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Might be able to add the Mets to that list too
The Nats were SO slow to start giving this guy consistent playing time. They cycled through several other mediocre players before finally realizing one of the best OPS’s on the team was a guy they seemed committed to starting *maybe* twice a week.
The Nats stoned one of their own players? I’d file a grievance.
Solid player that Stone Garrett. Plays all out and is an integral part in what is becoming quite an exciting and competitive club.
Wishing a full recovery for Mr. Garrett.
Even bigger blow than that Ohtani injury. Guy was going to be the face of the game next year.
Thoughts and prayers…
Time to bring up Jacob Young? James Wood?
Young makes sense. Wood is whiffing too much as a 20yo in AA.
That’s a shame. It’s taken him a while to break in. Good luck.
Was watching the game, poor guy was crying as he was taken off the field, hopefully it’s not a super long wait for him to come back, it was a journey just to get to the big leagues for him. Very nice ovation from the Yankees crowd too.
He had worked so hard for this opportunity and was blossoming as a ball player.
Part of what makes this so sad is recognition that he had a window of opportunity before Crews, Wood, Hassell etc. arrive and he was making the most of his chance.
All the best for Stone Garrett.
This is tough to see. Especially since he was producing after finally getting a full-time shot at 27. May it be a speedy recovery for Stone.
Ovation for Garrett might be the only thing Yankee fans have had to cheer about this year. Still, a classy move by Bronx Bomber fans.
Although not as prevalent as football, it’s a fine line pro athletes walk when a single play going awry can compromise or ruin their careers in a split second.
Hope the young man makes a full recovery and is back with the Nats next season.
What a shame. I was at the game and Garrett made a heroic effort to rob the home run. The way his leg twisted under the wall looked brutal.
I hope he makes a full recovery. He’s very popular in the Nationals clubhouse and one of their biggest success stories. The team improved after trading Candelario. Let’s see how they respond to this obstacle.
I broke my left fibula many years ago on a slide into 3rd base. As long as it’s a non-displaced fracture it shouldn’t be too bad – 6-8 weeks to recover.
At least it wasn’t his ankle. I wish him the best in his recovery.
Feel bad for Garrett. Hopefully he heals well. I still don’t know why Downs keeps getting the recall. He hasn’t played well in AAA, at all, but keeps getting a chance in the majors. Give someone else a chance
Downs has been getting his K/W down, albeit at the expense of some power. As a former top-60ish player, he should be given 100% of the playing time, depending on when/if Garcia returns.
Did he get fat or something? He hasn’t hit .200 since before Covid
Downs is hitting .175 in Rochester. Garrett is an outfielder. Don’t have to call an infielder up for him. Garrett is likely done for the season. You can put him on the 60-day IL & add a player who has been playing well in AAA to the 40-man & give that player a look. Downs hasn’t performed. Why not get a look at someone else?
Asked and answered: Jacob Young, outfielder.
Garrett has been a fun player to watch for the Nats, especially earlier this season. Tough break
tough break
tough fracture actually
I hope he has a full recovery. I truly feel so bad for him. I hope he makes it back to the majors and has a successful career!
The kid will recover and the future in Nats land is bright. You have an exciting young, hungry core, deep pockets ownership and an EXCELLENT GM in Rizzo. Rizzo played the whole Juan Soto thing brilliantly and got a whole new team in the transaction. And with the whole Strasburg retirement thing potentiallyopening some payroll, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Nats make a run at that 3rd wildcard spot, as soon as next year.
…and it’s impossible to overlook the fact that the on-racing Nats are only a half game behind the Padres (and Juan Soto) in the WC race. Funny how playing fundamentally sound baseball and getting good starting pitching are the real keys to winning — not overpaid prima donna sluggers. Rizzo/Martinez have worked a minor miracle.
Stone Garrett looks like hes a legit hitter and Jeter has learned to take a walk (small sample) they could be bright spots