During a new york yankees season where much more has gone right than expected, one troubling trend has been the injuries suffered by some of the young and developing stars. Aaron Hicks, Greg Bird, and Gleyber Torres have each been sidelined by injuries. As right fielder Dustin Fowler made his major league debut, it seemed unlikely that he would be joining them on the list on Thursday night. But in the bottom of the first inning, disaster struck.
Fowler goes down in the field
In the bottom of the first frame of the game, a Chicago White Sox hitter sent a ball screaming towards the right field corner.
Fowler gave chase all the way, smacking into the right field wall in foul territory (while failing to grab the ball). It was immediately clear that the right fielder was in pain, as he began hopping with one leg immediately after he pulled away from the wall. As the Yankees right fielder attempted to put weight on his left leg, he immediately collapsed into the dirt.
Here's the Dustin Fowler play if you care to be sick to your stomach. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/CGiieUTpAL
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 30, 2017
Medical personnel was quickly summoned to the right field dirt. Fowler kept a relatively calm composure on the field while teammates on the field and in the dugout looked on in horror and shock at what had befallen their friend during his major league debut.
Eventually, he was carted off the field, with Yankees manager Joe Girardi looking on in disbelief, perhaps even grief. Shortly afterward, it was reported that Fowler would need immediate surgery upon an open rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee on the very same night his dreams came true.
More bad injury news for the Yankees
Fowler was called up earlier on Thursday to make his major league debut. He was a legend at the Triple-A level last season and was receiving positive marks in comparison to other Yankees prospects ahead of his promotion. Yet he never had the opportunity to step up to the plate - he was due up in the top of a second inning he wouldn't make it to.
Fowler joins a list of young Yankees players with injury struggles this season. First baseman Greg Bird has only played in 19 games this season because of ankle and shoulder woes. Center fielder Aaron Hicks is currently on the disabled list with an oblique injury.
Meanwhile, top prospect Gleyber Torres was ruled out for the season less than two weeks ago after receiving the news that he would need Tommy John surgery. Lots has gone right for the Bronx Bombers this season - but on Thursday night, something went terribly wrong.
