MLB All-Star Goes on Injured List with Utterly Horrific Injury
The Seattle Mariners will be without 2018 All-Star outfielder Mitch Haniger for the foreseeable future after he suffered a gruesome injury in Friday’s game.
During an eventual 14-inning loss to the Astros, Haniger fouled a pitch off himself.
That appears to have been when he suffered a ruptured testicle, per MLB.com’s Greg Johns.
Mariners release says Mitch Haniger’s injury occurred in the sixth inning but I think it happened here in the third inning. pic.twitter.com/FfO4n7CS0E
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) June 7, 2019
Haniger actually stayed in the game after suffering the injury, before eventually being removed in the seventh inning.
He was placed on the 10-day injured list, though it would be a minor miracle if he only missed the minimum number of games.
The Mariners are familiar with this type of injury, as then-starting third baseman Adrian Beltre went through it in 2009 and ended up being on the shelf for more than five weeks, according to MLB.com.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is the most recent big-name player to suffer this kind of injury.
He got hurt last year while behind the plate after the Cubs’ Kris Bryant foul-tipped a 102-mph fastball off his groin.
Molina underwent emergency surgery and missed about one month of action, according to Bleacher Report.
Haniger underwent surgery on Friday, per Root Sports Northwest’s Jen Mueller, and the Mariners aren’t placing a timetable on his return to action.
Mitch Haniger underwent surgery on a ruptured testicle. There’s no timetable for his return at this point.
— Jen Mueller (@JenTalksSports) June 7, 2019
Haniger was one of three All-Stars for the Mariners last season, and the only one who’s still with the team.
Prior to his injury, he was leading the team in runs scored while ranking second in both home runs and total bases.
He had been struggling at the plate recently after a hot start to the season, hitting just .214 in May and .100 in June.
Haniger’s season average has dropped to .220, and he leads the American League with 81 strikeouts.
But manager Scott Servais says the team will miss his work ethic.
“Mitch is our grinder,” Servais said, per MLB.com.
“He’s our champion. He does things the right way. I know he’s been scuffling a bit at the plate and is very frustrated with his performance, but these are crazy injuries. The spleen, the other issue with Mitch,” Servais added.
“It’s something you have to deal with and keep moving forward. And that’s what we will do here.”
Servais was referring to an injury suffered by center fielder Braden Bishop, who was hospitalized this week due to a lacerated spleen.
Haniger and Bishop are two of 10 Mariners on the injured list.
Pitcher Felix Hernandez and second baseman Dee Gordon are also on the shelf.
Reliever Tayler Scott, meanwhile, was called up to replace Haniger on the active roster.
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