The Boston Red Sox encountered an astonishing turn of events in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player they had ambitiously acquired through a trade suffered a wrist fracture in his debut game, forcing him to exit.
On Tuesday, Curtis Mead, an infielder for Boston, started as the second baseman and batted second in a game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.
This marked Mead’s first appearance since joining the Red Sox. Just before the trade deadline (August 4 Korean time), Boston had sent promising young left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Mead.
After joining Boston on Monday, Mead traveled with the team to California that night and made his Red Sox debut in the series opener against the Athletics.
Following a strikeout in his first at-bat, Mead suffered an unfortunate injury during his second plate appearance in the fourth inning. Leading off the frame, he was struck on the left wrist by a pitch from Athletics starter Jack Perkins and had to be removed from the game.
Initially, the Red Sox organization reported that Mead had sustained a contusion on his left wrist and that X-rays showed no abnormalities. Interim manager Chad Tracy expressed relief, stating that it looks like it dodged a bullet there.
However, further tests revealed a wrist fracture, dramatically altering the situation. ESPN reported that Mead is likely to be placed on the injured list for an indefinite period.
Prior to his injury this season, Mead had played in 88 games, posting a .253 batting average with 17 home runs and 48 run batted ins (RBIs). Traded from the Chicago White Sox to Washington in March, he was having his best season since his MLB debut. Now, after joining a playoff contender, Mead faces the misfortune of a lengthy absence after just one game with his new team.