Curtis Mead's Red Sox Debut Ends in Injury Heartache: Wrist Fracture Puts Season in Jeopardy
Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead suffered a wrist fracture in his first game with the team, a potentially season-ending injury for the 25-year-old.
The Red Sox placed Mead on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, following reports from Chris Cotillo of MassLive that Mead is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
Mead was acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 25th in a trade that sent promising pitcher Connelly Early to Boston. He filled a need on the infield and provided a productive bat in the lineup, helping the Red Sox recover from a slow start to move into position for an AL wild-card spot.
Mead's breakout season with the Nationals this year saw him slash .254/.352/.500 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and 6 stolen bases in 87 games.
In his first and only game with the Red Sox, Mead batted second in the order and got hit with a pitch in his second at-bat against the Athletics.
The injury and recovery timeline threaten to sideline Mead for most if not all of the remainder of the regular season, with his return possibly coming between September 9th and 23rd.
A 10-day injured list stint is expected to be the first step in Mead's recovery process, with surgery not required according to Cotillo's report.
The Red Sox are relying on Mead's production to make a push for the playoffs, and his absence could be a significant blow to the team's chances.
Mead's breakout season with the Nationals this year saw him total 16 home runs and 31 RBI across 152 games in his three previous seasons.
The Red Sox have been on a roll this season, and Mead's addition was expected to help them make a deeper playoff run.
The Red Sox are scheduled to conclude their regular season on September 27th, with the postseason starting on September 29th.
Mead's injury and recovery timeline will be closely monitored by Red Sox fans and the baseball community as a whole.
Source: Yahoo Sports