The Yankees and Dodgers each have had their share of injuries this season, and now the third team in the race for Major League Baseball’s best record might have a problem, too. Houston Astros outfielder George Springer made a brilliant catch Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, but he collided with the wall and suffered a head injury.
Team personnel had to cart Springer off the field. Manager A.J. Hinch said after the game only that Springer had a head injury and was day-to-day.
Great catch, but scary hit on the wall.
George Springer went down hard. Hope he is ok. pic.twitter.com/cLJMVelTeX
— Chris Dixon (@cdixon25) September 4, 2019
A brilliant, terrifying catch
Springer drifted back on a deep fly ball hit by Ryan Braun, leaped on the warning track and crashed the back of his head into the outfield wall as he came down with the ball. It was reminiscent of some other great catches — Ken Griffey Jr’s in 1995, Tyler Naquin for the Indians last week — where the outfielder simultaneously seriously injured himself and landed on the highlight reel.
But Springer might end up being OK. He stood up with help before being carted off the field. After the game Hinch said he was day to day. And Wednesday morning’s update says tests showed nothing serious and that Springer should be ready to return as soon as his head and neck feel better.
We all saw George Springer leave the field during tonights loss vs the Brewers. After the game, AJ Hinch spoke about his leadoff man.
Day off tomorrow, back at it Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/LHYiLcHFPX
— AT&T SportsNet SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) September 4, 2019
A ready replacement
If Springer misses a significant amount of time, that hurts the Astros, who trail the Yankees by a game for the best record in the American League entering play Wednesday.
Springer is hitting .297/.389/.573 this season and would be an MVP candidate if it weren’t for Mike Trout’s transcendent season. Losing him for any period of time will hurt the Astros, who also have been without Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa for periods this season.
But Houston also has a ready-made replacement. Kyle Tucker tore up the minor leagues this year and is on the 40-man roster. It seems he’ll be the one to fill in for Springer for however much time he misses.
George Springer was just carted off the field after hitting his head hard on the outfield wall. Extent of the injury isn’t know yet but that looked bad.
Go add Kyle Tucker immediately if he’s available in your league.#FantasyBaseball #TakeItBack
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) September 4, 2019
