Brian Roberts was forced to leave last night’s game with yet another injury, a fate most Orioles fans are tired of hearing. (Image Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Oft-injured second baseman Brian Roberts made his way into the Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day lineup, a positive sign in his latest comeback attempt, but there’s a chance that the 35 year old could be hurt once again. Roberts may have pulled a hamstring stealing second base in the 9th inning of last night’s Orioles win over the Tampa Bay Rays. He clutched at his leg after sliding safely into second, was attended to by the team’s training staff, and would leave the game. He’ll undergo an MRI sometime today.
Since the start of the 2010 season, Roberts has appeared in just 118 games – batting just .248/.311/.344 in 525 PA – for the Orioles thanks to a variety of injuries. He missed time in 2010 thanks to an abdominal strain. 2011 was lost thanks to a head injury, suffered from a head-first slide during a game at Boston in mid-May. Lingering issues from the head injury, a groin strain, and eventually hip surgery cost him nearly the entire 2012 campaign.
Optimism surrounded Roberts this Spring, as he finally appeared to be fully healthy after all of these injuries. He looked much like his old self during Spring Training as well, batting .310/.365/.431 in 63 PA. Roberts is entering the final year of a four year, $40 Million extension that he had signed with the team prior to the 2010 season. His future beyond the end of the season, just as his immediate health, remains unclear.