Arizona Diamondbacks: Alex Avila Strains Quads While Rounding Bases
The series between the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks featured one of the weirdest injuries in MLB when Avila strained his quads while rounding the bases.
This has been an odd start to the baseball season. The defending champion Boston Red Sox are at the bottom of the American League East. Their struggles have led to the use of Eduardo Nunez, a position player, on the mound on Thursday, April 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a game which they lost 15 to 9.
Nunez was called on to pitch because the team was down by a ton and had no chance at coming back. they did not want to waste another reliever, so in came Nunez. Not only did a position player pitch, but he gave up a home run.
The craziness continues.
As the veteran catcher Alex Avila was rounding the bases, he strained his left quadriceps, and Arizona added him to the Injured List following the game. It is rather rare for a player to get hurt rounding the bases as the trot their home run.
This is another example of peculiar injuries in baseball.
The Diamondbacks skipper, Torey Lovullo addressed the media following Avila’s injury. He explained that Avila was hurt as he slowed down after the ball traveled over the fence.
“He was gearing up to get to second base, and when he saw it went over the fence he kind of geared down and felt it grab,” manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday. “We don’t think it is going to be anything that is too lengthy.”
Arizona is thrilled that his stint on the IL will be a quick one. Even though it is a smaller sample size, Avila is having one of the best starts to a season in his 11thcampaign. Through six games, the backstop is hitting .333, with two home runs and 5 runs batted in.
Avila’s veteran presence is needed in Arizona’s clubhouse. Batting near the bottom of the order, the former All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner provides more depth in their lineup.
Avila was splitting time with newly acquired Carson Kelly. Kelly will take over a majority of the responsibilities until Avila rejoins the team after he heals.
It’s not every day that a position player pitches. Only blowouts or dire circumstances results in an everyday-player on the mound. However, it might be even crazier than a player got hurt while hitting a home run.
Arizona hopes to have Avila rejoin the club sooner rather than later, expecting this to be a minor injury. This is just the first of a multitude of weird injuries that occur throughout each season.