This time of year, we’re amazed at the many creative ways baseball players find to appear on the popular annual Weird But True Injury Rankings.
So we’d like to thank this year’s baseball players for… cooking breakfast… playing the piano… and doing their best to get in and out of hotel bathrooms safely. But you know what’s particularly amazing? None of these surprises top the list!
Really? True. The strangest yet most real injury of 2023 is here.
First Prize: Eye Confession!
We always award annual injury bonus points to players who manage to get injured despite already being injured. Hats off to Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks, who couldn’t even hide the copycat behavior that got Giannis in trouble.
When Fairbanks returned from the injured list with hip inflammation in June, he met with the Rays’ media delegation with a dizzying black eye — and the 21st century’s greatest “I Am” How to do it” story one.
Turns out this can happen to you too If you try to get your 3 year old to dunk in the pool.
“After dunking on a 3-year-old, I pulled the pool basketball hoop up to his face,” Fairbanks admits. “It was to teach him an early lesson that when you’re in the paint , you won’t get caught.” Unconsciously he was under the basket. “
We can only hope his son said: Send it over, Jerome!
Second Prize: It’s all the alarm clock’s fault!
Yusei Kikuchi really needs his Z. (“Rich Stories”/”USA Today”)
We’ve always thought of Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi as a sleeping giant.
We know very little about this!
Why did he exit early after a stellar start to September at Yankee Stadium? Because he had cramps, he said: After “only” sleeping for 11 hours — Contrary to his usual approach 12 to 14 hours. So he probably won’t lead the league in shutouts. But what exactly. You’ve got to love his chances of leading the league in sleepers. If this is your sleep goal, buy a t-shirt!
Third prize: When you (and your back) have to go
Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria strained his back last July and was only supposed to miss a week or so. So why did it become three weeks?Because, according to him, his back was aggravated Get up from the toilet In a hotel bathroom in San Francisco.
So you think making out could jeopardize a baseball player’s career, huh? Watch out for outhouses!
Fourth Prize: His walking ratio
Tony Gonsolin made it to the mound in a July game. (Jerome Miron/USA Today)
Need more proof that most spring training workouts are overrated? Last March, Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin participated in a routine fielding drill during spring training and successfully completed the fielding portion. It turns out he should have an exit strategy.
He tripped and sprained his ankle while leaving the field, missing the first four weeks of the season. But is it all worth it? He hasn’t made a mistake all season!
5th Prize: They have enough time to become a greater father
Finally, there have been a lot of great daddy moments this season…which have led to not-so-great moments while trying to get on the field…so we’ve gathered them here. If their family prints it and frames it, it should make a lovely Father’s Day gift.
• Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani breaks toe… plays piano with son!
• Adam Wainwright burns fingers…making breakfast for son!
• Josh Donaldson cuts his thumb while assembling toys for his daughter!
It all seems troublesome. But hey, at least they didn’t try to dunk a kid in the pool.
A strange but true year
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(Top photo of Pete Fairbanks: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
