George Springer was hit by a pitch in his second at bat Saturday in Minnesota and left the game with a heavy limp after sitting on the ground for a few minutes. Jesus Sanchez came in to pinch-run for him.
The pitch struck Springer on the top of his front left foot, and slow-motion replays showed it appearing to land close to the toe that had only just healed after a fracture to his left big toe. Broadcast cameras caught Springer saying, "Can't do nothing but laugh."
That made the scene harder to watch because Springer had recently returned from the toe injury earlier in the week. The concern now is not just that he was forced out of the game, but that the blow appeared to hit the same area as the previous fracture.
For Springer, the test is immediate. He had only just made it back, and now the first question is whether the foot can withstand the next step.
