The Seattle Mariners will likely be without Robinson Cano for a lengthy period after he was hit on his right hand during Sunday’s game in Detroit.
What a difference a day can make. On Saturday, Robinson Cano hit a three-run blast to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a double-header.
However, just 24 hours later Cano was facing the prospect of a lengthy spell on the disabled list. Certainly, this puts the Mariners’ first road series loss of the season into perspective.
The eight-time All-Star suffered his injury during the third inning, when he was hit by a fastball from lefty Blaine Hardy. He was immediately removed from the game, with X-rays revealing a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand.
Cano will visit a hand specialist in Philadelphia on Tuesday for more clarification, but he will more than likely require surgery. The projection at this stage is that he will be on the disabled list for around six weeks.
The five-time Silver Slugger realized there was a problem immediately, after being hit by Hardy’s pitch. As reported by MLB.com’s Greg Johns, he said:
“I knew right away. It’s kind of the same feeling when I broke my pinkie toe in Japan (during an offseason tour in 2015). I knew right away.”
While there is never a good time for something like this to happen, it is extremely irritating for Cano and the Mariners. The team finds themselves in realistic contention to end what is the longest current postseason drought in the Majors.
The second baseman discussed his annoyance at the timing of the injury. Again reported by Johns, he said:
“Of course it’s frustrating, the way we’ve been playing. But you have to go with what God gives you. It can be something worse, but I have to take the time and recover 100 percent and come back and play again.”
While not as explosive at the plate as in previous seasons, Cano has still been a key component of the Mariners’ offense. Following Sunday’s game, he had hit four homers and 23 RBIs, while leading team regulars in OBP.
The two-time Gold Glove winner is in the fifth season of the 10-year, $240 million deal he signed at the end of 2013. This is the first time he will face an extended period on the sidelines, since arriving in Seattle.
In fact, Cano will likely miss his most playing time in a season, after being remarkably durable during his MLB career. Dating back to 2007, the most games he has missed in a single season is 12, which actually came last year.
Understandably, thoughts now turn to who will step in for the 35-year old. One possibly candidate is Dee Gordon, although manager Scott Servais insists he will remain in center field, at least at this point.
How concerned are you by Cano’s injury? How much of an impact do you expect his absence to have on the Seattle Mariners? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
