[Brett: Man, it sure is weird to write about “other stuff” at this moment, after the Bryant service time grievance decision finally came down … but we have a bunch of other stuff to hit on today. Don’t worry, we’ll deal with Bryant stuff as the news and rumors dictate!]
The mystery of the “wrist issue” that had Brewers infielder Luis Urias sent to Milwaukee from Mexico for further testing has been solved, and it’s going to cost him some time.
It is the ole hamate bone:
Sources: #Brewers’ Luís Urias underwent surgery to repair a fractured left hamate bone. He’s expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 29, 2020
A hamate bone break is among the more common injuries for hitters – it’s a stupid bone at the very bottom of the hand that sticks out in a weird spot and hits the handle of the bat – and leads to surgery to repair, or remove. You don’t need the dang thing. Victor Caratini, you’ll recall, missed a little over a month after his stupid hamate bone broke. In the month and a half after his return, Caratini hit just .222/.304/.354 (74 wRC+), before turning it back on for the final two months of the season (.267/.347/.458, 109 wRC+).
For Urias, the 22-year-old will have time to rest up before the season begins, and if he doesn’t require a lot of ramp-up time, might be ready to go. The question is whether there will be lingering impact (it seems to vary from player to player with this particular injury/surgery). For a smaller guy who already lacked power, you wonder a little more on the impact of any lingering wrist issue – not because the power is gone from his game, but because the ability to barrel the ball consistently is so important to his offensive game. I suppose you can probably talk yourself into being nervous about all kinds of hitters in this situation.
The Brewers brought in Urias, a former tip-top Padres prospect, to be their primary shortstop this year, displacing a horribly unproductive Orlando Arcia. They are counting on him to break out in the big leagues, and I’m sure that this injury is particularly concerning. It’s possible it could wind up seeing him optioned to AAA to begin the season, while the Brewers get their hands around just how ready to go he is or isn’t.