Curtis Granderson, the New York Yankees’ consistent outfielder, was struck Sunday by a pitch on his right forearm in his first spring training at bat, breaking it and sidelining him for up to 10 weeks.
Granderson was hit by a 2-2 pitch from J.A. Happ. X-rays showed a fracture, offsetting an early report of a bruise.
“Obviously it’s a big bump in the road,” Granderson said. “To be down, pout, all of those things isn’t going to change anything. We just continue to move forward.”
Granderson, a centerfielder much of his career, was to play his first game in left field, while the Yankees moved Brett Gardner to center. But Granderson did not make it through the top of the first inning.
With two runners on and two out in the bottom of the first, Happ’s fastball caught Granderson on the arm. He was in obvious pain as he headed to first base, where he was met by manager Joe Girardi and a team trainer. Granderson was immediately removed from the game, though neither he nor Girardi initially believed the injury to be serious.
“It was just one specific spot,” Granderson said. “Nothing moved up or down. No numbness. No tingling. Just that spot. Kind of felt like you hit your funny bone, but only in that spot.”
“That spot” is called the ulna, one of two bones that make up the forearm, a couple of inches above the right wrist.
Girardi said: ”I was actually kind of shocked. He wasn’t in a lot of pain. I guess he’s got a high pain threshold.”
Granderson said Happ sent a message over to the Yankees clubhouse asking how he was before anyone knew he had suffered a broken arm.
“It was definitely nothing on purpose,” he said. “He’s trying to work and come inside, it’s part of the game.”
