Braves’ Tim Hudson Suffers Season-Ending Ankle Injury [Graphic Video]

Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson suffered a gruesome, season-ending injury on Wednesday when the Mets’ Eric Young Jr. stepped on Hudson’s ankle, rather than first base.

Hudson was only covering first base after the ball hit by Young bounced off the chest of Freddie Freeman. Hudson caught the ball and tagged the bag for an out, but his foot was still there when the batter stepped on it.

Hudson underwent X-rays at Citi Field, reports The Washington Post. Afterward, the Braves announced he had suffered a fractured right ankle and will have surgery once the swelling goes down.

While it’s not clear how long the injury will keep Tim Hudson on the disabled list, it’s likely he won’t play for the rest of the season. Before the injury, the pitcher was working on a four-hit shutout in the eight inning.

After the game was over, Eric Young, Jr. spoke with reporters about Tim Hudson’s injury. The New York Daily News notes that he recalled, “I pretty much knew it was probably broke right as I did it… and that’s why I sprinted right back to him and try to console him as much as I could and apologize.”

Hudson didn’t blame Young for the injury and told the Mets player twice that he had nothing to apologize for. Young added, “He just told me to keep my head up and keep playing the game the hard way, the right way. He said there was nothing I can do about it.”

While Hudson’s words helped Young somewhat, he added he’s “still bummed that [Hudson’s] going to be out for a while. I just hope he has a speedy recovery.”

Young rushed to Hudson’s side immediately after the injury happened. He consoled the pitcher while medical staff attended to him. Hudson was then taken off the field after EMS worker strapped him on a backboard and put him on a cart.

Do you think Tim Hudson’s broken ankle will keep him off the field for the rest of the season?