The prior week in MLB was about a player in the American League who will be sidelined for several weeks due to an injury, the 2023 World Baseball Classic schedule is announced, and a superstar continues making history.
Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Wander Franco Could Miss Several Weeks with Hand Injury
Tampa Bays Rays shortstop Wander Franco was forced to exit a game this past weekend against the Cincinnati Reds due to discomfort in his right hand and wrist.
He is expected to see a doctor today for further evaluation, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
#Rays say Franco left game after 1st at-bat due to "discomfort in his right hand and wrist.'' Won't play Sunday, will see Dr. Carlan in St. Pete on Monday
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 9, 2022
Rays manager Kevin Cash mentioned that Franco would be placed on the injured list with a hamate injury that could sideline him six-to-eight weeks, per Topkin.
#Rays Franco likely to be out 6-8 weeks if it’s a hamate fracture as Cash said they think. Aranda is coming up. https://t.co/X6fTc5awNy
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 10, 2022
Franco had his right hand in a brace after the game, according to Topkin.
#Rays Franco’s right hand is in a brace
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 10, 2022
Franco had a fantastic rookie season for the Rays last year, as he posted a .288 batting average and .810 OPS in 70 games with 81 hits, 53 runs scored, 18 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 39 RBIs, two stolen bases, and a 128 OPS+.
However, he has struggled during the 2022 campaign by compiling a .260 average and .704 OPS in 58 games with 59 hits, 34 runs scored, 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 23 RBIs, five stolen bases, and a 107 OPS+.
He did deal with a quad injury early this season which kept him sidelined for one month.
Franco’s dealing with injuries has contributed to his struggles this season.
If Franco is forced to miss eight weeks, that will put his return during the last month of the season.
The loss of Franco is significant for the Rays as he is a talented player.
2023 World Baseball Classic Schedule Announced
The World Baseball Classic is coming back in 2023 as the full schedule for the event was announced last week.
The World Baseball Classic is BACK!
🌏🌍🌎
March, 2023#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/3lE3RLNBns— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) July 7, 2022
The tournament begins in March and will take place in Taiwan, Japan, and Phoenix in the opening rounds before concluding in Miami.
Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix, and Miami are ready!
Here is the official tournament format for the #WorldBaseballClassic 2023. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/co0IxZZad4
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) July 7, 2022
The 2023 version of the global baseball showcase has been expanded to 20 teams, and 16 countries have already earned their spots.
Qualifiers will fill the remaining spots.
The last time a World Baseball Classic took place was in 2017 when the United States defeated Puerto Rico in the finals.
The return of the World Baseball Classic is terrific as fans get to players represent their country and show how global the sport of baseball has become.
Los Angeles Angels Superstar Shohei Ohtani Continues Making History
Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is an incredible talent and recently made history.
In his latest outing against the Miami Marlins, he limited them to one unearned run on two hits with 10 strikeouts.
This marked the fourth straight start that Ohtani did not surrender an earned run.
He is just the seventh pitcher since 1901 to go 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA and tally 40-plus strikeouts in a four-start stretch during one season.
Ohtani and Johan Santana are the only American League pitchers to do this in the divisional era, per Angels PR.
Also, Ohtani joined Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, and John Lackey as the only pitchers in the last 50 years to have at least 10 strikeouts and no earned runs in three straight starts, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.
Over the last 50 years, only 4 pitchers have had 3 straight starts with 0 ER and 10-plus SO:
Jacob deGrom
Clayton Kershaw
John Lackey
Shohei Ohtani10 SO, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 unearned run in 7 innings vs. the Marlins tonight. Also a stolen base and the key two-out, two-run single.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 7, 2022
Ohtani also made MLB history at the plate as he drove in two runs and stole a base.
In accomplishing this, he became the first MLB player ever to record 10 strikeouts as a pitcher, drive in two runs, and steal a base in the same game, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Shohei Ohtani is the first player since RBI became official in 1920 to do all the following in a single game:
– 10 strikeouts as a pitcher
– 2 RBI as a batter
– a stolen base pic.twitter.com/GXmuoaGptt— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 7, 2022
Author Profile
- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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