Chicago Cubs Injury Came Right Out of a Final Destination Movie-Type Freak Accident
The Chicago Cubs are making roster moves because of injuries at an alarming rate here in April, but the latest incident is right out of a Final Destination movie. It was a bit odd on Tuesday when reports surfaced that the Cubs were calling up two more left-handed pitchers from Triple-A, which made it five lefties in the bullpen. However, it wasn’t by choice because right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts suffered a finger injury.
The details later came out, and it described a scary situation for Roberts, who ended up with a severe cut on his finger. How did it happen? The pitcher was working out when a vent suddenly fell.
MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian described the entire ordeal.
Roberts’ setback was a laceration on the middle finger of his pitching hand — the result of a metal vent coming loose.
Roberts said he was on his ninth rep in a 10-throw workout involving a medicine ball, which is part of his daily routine. Without space to do the drill in the weight room, he moved to a tunnel at Citizens Bank Park. On the ill-fated throw, the medicine ball rebounded off one wall and hit a vent cover on another, dislodging it.
The vent was about to strike Roberts’ leg, so the pitcher reached back out of pure reaction. The cut is on the underside of the pitcher’s fingertip, which impacts his ability to throw. He did not require stitches, but he needs to let the wound heal before he can ramp up his throwing intensity.
So, with another right-handed pitcher injured, the Cubs needed to make a move, and because Gavin Hollowell is also on the injured list in Triple-A, the only healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster remaining were Ryan Rolison and Luke Little, who were called up.
The injuries to Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd have also affected the bullpen. Colin Rea jumped into the rotation, and Javier Assad, who could have filled in as a reliever, is also filling in as a starter. Meanwhile, Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are on the injured list at the same time, and Roberts makes a third right-handed reliever sidelined.
So, it’s not like the Cubs were loading up on lefties to match up against the Philadelphia Phillies. They just needed arms available.
All right, let’s do a quick list of bizarre Chicago Cubs injuries.
Mike Remlinger: fractured left pinky finger after getting it stuck between recliner chairs in the clubhouse.
Sammy Sosa: injured his back by sneezing violently.
Kerry Wood: bruised ribs after slipping while getting out of his hot tub.
Ryan Dempster: broke a toe while jumping over the dugout, celebrating a win.
Alfonso Soriano: strained calf after doing his signature hop when catching a fly ball.
Brandon Morrow: suffered back spasms while taking off his pants.
Cade Horton: suffered a fractured rib after severe coughing.
Well, now Ethan Roberts gets to be added to that prestigious list.