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PHOENIX — Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was hit by a pitch that broke his left wrist in the first inning on Monday night against the A’s at Camelback Ranch, and will almost certainly open the regular season on the disabled list.
Turner said he suffered a small non-displaced fracture in his left wrist, and will be further examined on Tuesday by team physician Dr. Brian Shafer.
“It’s definitely not what I wanted to hear. It was starting to feel better and better as I was in there getting X-rays. I was pretty hopeful they would come back negative,” Turner said. “You get the news and it’s tough.”
There is no immediate timetable for his return, though Turner expects to find out more after meeting with Shafer on Tuesday.
“Obviously with the break, weeks are involved,” manager Dave Roberts said.
It is unknown just how comparable these injuries are but Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman missed 44 games in 2017 with a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist. Freeman is a left-handed batter, while Turner bats right-handed.
Turner was plunked by a 94 mph fastball by Kendall Graveman just below his batting glove and appeared to be in considerable pain, first kneeling then laying on the ground near the on-deck circle while tended to by Dodgers trainers.
Turner exited the game immediately and was taken for X-rays. He was replaced by pinch runner Donovan Solano, who remained in the game at third base.
In 2017 Turner was hit by 19 pitches to set a Los Angeles Dodgers record, one shy of the franchise record set in Brooklyn by Hughie Jennings in 1900. Turner has been hit 46 times in four seasons the Dodgers.
“This probably felt worse than any other ones. It’s part of the game. It’s unfortunate,” Turner said. “I’m going to do everything I can to get back as fast as I can. There are some opportunities for some guys to take over for me.”
“We’re not as good a team without JT. There’s no doubt about that. You feel for the player,” general manager Farhan Zaidi said. “You feel for us as a group. The rest of the guys are going to have to do even more for us to play at the same level.”