Boston Red Sox: The extensive injury history of Chris Sale
By Kevin Henry
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale left his start in the bottom of the first inning after being hit in the left hand by a line drive in Boston’s road game at the New York Yankees. It now seems that the 33-year-old southpaw may once again miss time on the mound.
Here is a look at the injury history of starting pitcher Chris Sale with the Boston Red Sox
While not much is known about the severity of Sale’s most recent injury at the time of this writing (it’s officially a left fifth finger fracture and we will update the article with information below when it becomes available), it’s clear that Sale will be once again on the mend heading into the All-Star break.
Chris Sale was hit by a comebacker and walks off the field with what certainly appears to be a broken finger
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) July 17, 2022
pic.twitter.com/vNj09EB9vK
Chris Sale gave the throat slash sign to the Red Sox dugout as his mangled pinky dangled from his hand. He ran into the tunnel and is done for the day... and maybe much longer.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 17, 2022
Sale has made just two starts this season (including Sunday’s) for the Boston Red Sox after overcoming a right rib stress fracture suffered in the spring. That injury landed him on the 60-day injured list, a stint from which he was just activated on July 12.
UPDATE: Sale broke his right wrist in a bike accident and underwent surgery on August 8, ending his 2022 season with 5.2 innings pitched in two games.
Injuries have been a part of Sale’s career since he debuted for the Chicago White Sox on August 6, 2010. However, the time on the injured list has certainly climbed since he was acquired in a trade with the White Sox on December 6, 2016, in exchange for outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, right-hander Michael Kopech, right-hander Victor Diaz, and infielder Yoan Moncada.
We talked about his injuries in 2022 above, so let’s look at previous seasons in Boston and the injuries Sale has dealt with as well as the impact they had on his season.
2021
February 18 — Placed on 60-day injured list (Tommy John surgery). Activated on August 14.
September 10 — Placed on COVID-19 injured list. Activated on September 17.
Total starts made — 9
Total innings pitched — 42.2
2020
June 28 — Placed on 60-day injured list (left ulnar collateral ligament tear). Activated on October 31.
Total starts made — 0
Total innings pitched — 0
2019
August 17 — Placed on 10-day injured list (left elbow inflammation). Transferred to 60-day injured list on September 1. Activated on October 31.
Total starts made — 25
Total innings pitched — 147.1
2018
July 31 (retroactive to July 28) — Placed on 10-day injured list (mild left shoulder inflammation). Activated on August 12.
August 18 (retroactive to August 15) — Placed on 10-day injured list (mild left shoulder inflammation). Activated on September 11.
Total starts made — 27
Total innings pitched — 158.0
2017
No injuries.
Total starts made — 32
Total innings pitched — 214.1 (led all MLB pitchers)
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