There were some scary scenes during the Houston Astros‘ game on Monday night.
Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi had to be stretchered off the field after suffering a lower-body injury.
That ailment was later confirmed to be “some strains and sprains of ligaments around the left ankle/foot”, but at first, the pitcher said he feared the injury was much, much worse.
Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle told some details of his conversation with the pitcher.
“Jake Odorizzi said he feared he ruptured his Achilles tendon, but an MRI revealed only some strains and sprains of other ligaments around the ankle/foot. Odorizzi will return this season and said this is “best case scenario.” A timeline is unclear, but Odorizzi is off crutches,” Rome tweeted.
Jake Odorizzi said he feared he ruptured his Achilles tendon, but an MRI revealed only some strains and sprains of other ligaments around the ankle/foot. Odorizzi will return this season and said this is “best case scenario.” A timeline is unclear, but Odorizzi is off crutches
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 18, 2022
According to Rome, Odorizzi said he felt a “large pop” when he came off the mound and said the “stretcher made it look worse than it was.”
He Avoided A Major Injury
A ruptured Achilles tendon is actually one of the worst injuries an athlete can suffer: it affects basketball players, football players, and baseball players the same way: it limits movement for a long time.
Additionally, it has a high chance of re-aggravation: just ask Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka.
Fortunately, Odorizzi managed to avoid any major injuries.
He will still be out for a while, though.
It’s too bad because he was starting to pitch well after a nightmarish start.
After seven starts and 31.2 innings pitched, he has a 3-2 record, a 3.13 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and a 1.17 WHIP.
Those are good numbers for a back-of-the-rotation pitcher.
Now, he will be on the shelf for a while, but a foot sprain certainly has a much friendlier timeline than a ruptured Achilles tendon.
NEXT: Astros Still Waiting To Learn More On Jake Odorizzi