Pittsburgh Pirates: Broken hand a sore subject for Francisco Cervelli
By Tim Haberin
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli’s hand injury is a source of frustration coming in the wake of his recent contract extension.
No player wants to get injured, and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli is no exception. The 30-year-old backstop broke a bone in his left hand last week, forcing him out of a June 10 game against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list and underwent surgery on the hand the following day. He is expected to spend four to six weeks on the sidelines while he rehabs the issue.
The missed time is particularly frustrating for Cervelli after he signed a three-year, $31 million contract extension with the Pirates last month that will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2019 season. He appeared in the clubhouse before last night’s game with the Chicago Cubs and shared his feelings with reporters, as quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune:
"“I feel a little embarrassed. It’s embarrassing because I wanted to stay [on the field], especially after the confidence they [showed in] me with the contract and everything. I know it’s something I can’t control, but that’s my personality. That’s the way I feel.”"
Cervelli’s extension was a show of faith by the Pirates after seeing how remarkably well he took to the role of starting catcher during the 2015 campaign. It was arguably his strongest year yet as a major leaguer, as he slashed .295/.370/.401 with seven home runs and 43 RBI in 130 games. His .771 OPS and 3.1 WAR were both good for fourth among MLB catchers.
Injuries aren’t exactly a new development in Cervelli’s nine-year big league career, though. Since his debut with the New York Yankees as a 22-year-old in 2008, he’s dealt with a broken foot, strained hamstring, concussions and various other nicks and scrapes. In fact, last year was the first time he ever cracked the 100-game mark in a single season.
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Naturally, this injury stings more coming so soon after his team made a significant investment in him. Players frequently talk about the added pressure and responsibility of performing under a new contract. Cervelli’s deal might seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the mega-contracts signed by some stars, but next year’s $9 million salary will likely put him among the top 10 highest paid catchers in the league. He’s surely aware of that.
Anyone who has followed Cervelli’s major league journey knows that he brings a lot of fire and passion to everything he does. A 2013 suspension in connection to the Biogenesis scandal is the only real blemish on an otherwise exciting, animated player whose skills have gradually improved over the years, only to be undermined by persistent health issues.
Cervelli’s latest injury is another setback for a Pirates team that has quickly unraveled over the past week or so. The Bucs have lost eight of their last nine and now sit 13 games back in an NL Central dominated from the get-go by the Cubs. However, they are still only 2.5 games off the pace in the Wild Card race.
Pittsburgh will want a healthy, productive Cervelli back as soon as possible to better their chances. Before suffering the broken hand, he hadn’t quite found his groove yet, slashing .257/.373/.293 in 201 plate appearances with 21 RBI and no homers. He’s been mired in an 8-for-56 (.174) slump since May 18.
Cervelli is optimistic he’ll be able to return promptly, and considering that aforementioned personality, you know he’s probably chomping at the bit to get back out there and do his part.