The 2018 Major League Baseball season is only a few days away, but unfortunately there are a lot of players who won’t be 100% for Opening Day.
Injuries are a part of sports and are just as prevalent in baseball in any other sport. Though baseball isn’t as physical as football or basketball, the long seasons (182 regular season games), and the intense competition make injuries quite frequent across America’s pastime.
As far as recreational ball is concerned, be careful using doctored bats in cold temperatures. Shaved bats don’t do well when it’s cold. Do not use your shaved bat if it’s colder than 65 degrees outside.
According to ESPN, Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians’ star pitcher was forced to leave a Spring Training game with a left foot contusion. Approximately 75% of the American population will experience foot health issues of varying degrees of severity at one time or another, but those injuries aren’t as scrutinized and frequent when it comes to major league sports.
“Not only are these injuries becoming more prevalent among professional baseball pitchers, but we are also seeing a relatively high rate of re-injury as well,” said Dr. Eric Makhni, sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with Henry Ford Health System and senior author of a new study taking a look at injuries among MLB pitchers.
The Indians are hoping Carrasco’s injury won’t keep him out for too long but it will likely miss the first few games of the season.
Another Cleveland player, All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, has been battling numerous injuries for years, hoping to finally return to the lineup on Opening Day. During the same Spring Training game where Carrasco injured his foot, Brantley, now 30, turned on a pitch and homered in the second inning.
The chances of hitting a home run are far greater when the batter hits the ball at the bat’s “sweet spot.” This spot is found between five and seven inches from the barrel end of the bat, but there are so many additional factors that go into a successful swing — and a healthy body is at the top of that list.
“My ankle is doing really well,” Brantley, who had right ankle surgery in October, said after the game. “As the intensity picks up the games, the longer games, I have to see how it responds every day. I am very happy the way it is with the work ethic, myself, the doctors and trainers put in.”
Before being shut down with a debilitating ankle injury, Brantley batted .299 with nine home runs and 52 runs batted in (RBI) in 90 games.
“I will be happy that he’s healthy, whether it is Opening Day or a week later,” added Indians’ manager Terry Francona.
Boston Red Sox All-Star second basemen and 2008 American League Most Valuable Player, Dustin Pedroia, is another top player battling a lower body injury. According to Bleacher Report, following a left knee surgical procedure, Pedroia is expected back in the Red Sox’ lineup at sometime in May.
Additionally, other top MLB players who are dealing with injuries prior to Opening Day include: Danny Salazar (Cleveland Indians), Ervin Santana (Minnesota Twins), Troy Tulowitzki (Toronto Blue Jays), Daniel Murphy (Washington Nationals), and Justin Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers).