Playing on a mild ankle sprain

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Twins fans’ hearts went aflutter when rookie second baseman and .300 hitter Luis Arraez went to the ground after fielding a pop-up Saturday. Test results indicated no fracture, just a mild ankle sprain. “Just” a sprain, right?

 

Without leaping to any judgments on Arraez’s ankle specifically, I wanted to do a search to see how long it took for some notable players to recover from a “mild ankle sprain.”

 

Beginning, of course, with a player on the enemy Yankees who sprained his ankle the day after Arraez did.

 

1. Gio Urshela, New York Yankees

Left game: Sept 29, 2019 (season finale) fielding a ground ball.

Games missed: ??

 

Urshela was hobbling after fielding a ground ball, and was removed from the game. He is expected to be ready for the ALDS.

 

 

2. Justin Turner, LA Dodgers

Left game: Sept 7, 2019

Returned: Sept 20, 2019

Games missed: 9

 

The Dodger left a game after being hit by a pitch, then in the following days felt something not right with his ankle. An MRI revealed the sprain. The Dodgers were so far ahead in the NL West that they could afford to be cautious with Turner, and let him rest for more than a week.

 

 

3. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

Left game: Aug 11, 2019

Returned: Aug 13, 2019

Games missed: 1

 

The young Nationals star was diagnosed with a mild ankle sprain after running the bases, and was listed as day to day. He returned to the starting lineup a couple days later.

 

 

4. Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies

Left game: April 15, 2019

Returned: April 17, 2019

Games missed: 1

 

Hoskins sprained his ankle trying to steal second base in the first inning, and stayed in the game. After the game an X-Ray came back negative, and it was called a mild ankle sprain. Hoskins retuned two nights later.

 

 

5. Edwin Encarnacion (in 2018, then with Cleveland)

Left game: Sept 15, 2018

Returned: Sept 19, 2018

Games missed: 2

 

Encarnacion rolled his ankle when advancing to second base on a hit, and came out of the game. Cleveland clinched the AL Central title that day with their 15-0 win over Detroit, so Francona was wisely being cautious with Encarnacion.

 

On a side note, Encarnacion is currently questionable to return to the Yankees from his oblique strain in time for the division series against the Twins Friday.

 

 

6. Shohei Ohtani, Angels (2018)

Left game: April 27, 2018

Returned: May 1, 2018

Games missed: 2

 

As a DH, Ohtani hurt his ankle running through first base, and left the game. Not sure if he had a pitching appearance scheduled between April 27 and May 1, but he returned to the batting lineup a few nights later, and made a start in the rotation again on May 6.

 

 

7. Cody Bellinger, LA Dodgers (2017)

Left game: Aug 19, 2017

Returned: Aug 30, 2019

Games missed: 9

 

The Dodgers were 87-34 and led the NL West by 20 games, so had no incentive to bring back Bellinger before the ankle was fully healed (and then some).

 

 

8. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians (2016)

Final game: Oct 19, 2016

Next game: Oct 25, 2016

Games missed: 0

 

Kipnis hurt his ankle October 19 while celebrating winning the ALCS championship. Just before the World Series, news came out that Kipnis had hurt his ankle that night in the celebration. Kipnis was in the lineup for Game One against the Cubs on October 25.

 

"He might not be 100 percent, but I don't think it's going to get in the way,” said Francona.

 

Kipnis batted .290 with 2 home runs in 32 plate appearances in the Series.

 

 

***

 

So while it’s okay to remained concerned about Arraez, it’s also okay to be optimistic that he will be available for the series that starts Friday. The Twins will likely take as long as they need leading up to Friday to make that determination.

 

Go Twins!

[Doctor Wu]

That article gives me hope that Arreaz can play. Thank you!

[Homer Hanky]

Fantastic read! Thank you!!! 

 

GO TWINS 

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, it all depends on the severity of the injury as well as the recovery time. Given his age, I think he's a good bet to go... but I wouldn't be surprised either way. I'd like him there. Schoop can play against lefites, but I'd want Arraez against a righty any day.