Just as the Los Angeles Dodgers saw the returns of David Freese, A.J. Pollock and Corey Seager to bring their roster to full strength on the position-player side, they lost Chris Taylor to the 10-day injured list because of a fractured left forearm.
Taylor sustained the injury in the series finale against the Boston Red Sox. He was hit by a pitch in the left wrist area during the 11th inning and immediately grabbed at his arm. Taylor remained in the game after being checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer.
Although he stayed in to run the bases and play the field, Taylor was pinch-hit for when his spot came up in the 12th inning. Initially reported as the results from X-rays that were negative, Taylor actually underwent a fluoroscopy at Fenway Park.
Pain persisted the following day, prompting an actual set of X-rays which revealed the non-displaced left forearm fracture. The Dodgers did not offer a timetable, but Taylor estimated he would be sidelined four to six weeks.
In addressing his recovery during an appearance on “Lunchtime with Roggin and Rodney,” Taylor spoke optimistically about his progress and initial thoughts when he was hit by a 92.4 mph fastball:
“It’s good. It’s been a week, I think. I feel like I’m recovering pretty quickly, it feels much better than it did a few days ago, so hopefully I’ll be back in a few weeks. … Wrist injuries are always scary. I didn’t know right when it happened and I went and ran the bases. I thought it was just a bruise, and then it stiffened up on me pretty quick. When I went out in the field I had trouble turning my glove over.”
Taylor has prior experience with a fracture, as he sustained one in the triquetrum bone in his right wrist while with the Seattle Mariners during Spring Training in 2015. His recovery spanned four weeks.
Granted no injury is fortunate, but the timing of Taylor’s fracture came at a particularly in opportune time. He took advantage of regular starts at shortstop while Seager recovered from a left hamstring strain, and hit 363/.443/.613 with nine doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI in his last 24 games.
With Taylor hopeful to potentially return at some point in August, the Dodgers could receive significant reinforcements down the stretch, as Rich Hill could be back in September.
