Carl Pavano Injures Spleen While Shoveling Snow

Carl Pavano ruptured his spleen this week while shoveling snow. The 37-year-old free-agent was shoveling snow in the driveway at his Vermont home.

The free-agent pitcher is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks following the injury.

It hasn’t been a good year for Pavano and injuries. He suffered a right shoulder injury that sidelined him for the MLB season after June 1. Before his injury, Pavano was 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA in 11 games.

Now a free agent, Carl Pavano played for the Minnesota Twins since the middle of 2009.

While this injury might seem strange, Pavano actually has a history of odd injuries. In 2006, Pavano was placed on the disabled list after he bruised his buttock during a spring training game while playing with the New York Yankees. Pavano later went on to break two ribs in an automobile accident, an injury he originally hid from team officials.

It is unclear how this newest injury will affect Carl Pavano’s future prospects. Before his injury, both the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets were showing interest in his services.

Odd injuries are no stranger to the MLB. You may recall that, years ago, Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa injured his back and was sidelined. Sosa’s injury occurred after he let out a large-sized sneeze.

While Carl Pavano’s injury is odd, it’s not something to laugh at. A ruptured spleen occurs when the abdomen suffers a severe direct blow or blunt trauma.

Exactly how the injury occurred is not yet known at this time.