The New York Mets suffered a disappointing loss Wednesday when top catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, centerpiece of the offseason deal that sent R.A. Dickey to Toronto , was injured in a Triple-A game.
According to MLB.com, D’Arnaud, 24, suffered the injury after taking a foul tip off the foot while catching in the sixth inning against the Sacramento River Cats, the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate.
X-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal bone.
d’Arnaud is currently in a protective walking boot, and general manager Sandy Alderson said he is unsure if d’Arnaud will require surgery.
“I feel terrible for Travis,” Alderson said. “I feel terrible for us.”
A timetable for d’Arnaud’s recovery is expected to be determined on Thursday.
“That’s a weight-bearing bone so it could possibly cause discomfort when he rises from a crouching position to a throwing position,” Dr. Michael Subik, a foot and ankle specialist based in Lyndhurst who works with New York Giants players, told the New Jersey Star-Ledger “The timetable depends on where the fracture took place. Best-case scenario is four weeks. Worst-case scenario is eight weeks.”
The New York Daily points out this will be the second straight season d’Arnaud will miss games due to an injury.
He missed most of last season in Class AAA after injuring his left knee while sliding into second base in June. D’Arnaud never returned to the lineup. He has also suffered serious injuries to his back and thumb.
Prior to Wednesday’s injury, D’Arnaud was 9-for-36 (.250) at the plate this season with one home run and five doubles in 49 plate appearances. He walked 12 times and posted a .429 on-base percentage.
Last season, he was .333/.380/.595 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs in 67 games.
d’Arnaud’s injury is the latest blow to the Mets lineup, who also recently lost pitcher Johan Santana .
A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana suffered a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder sometime during spring training. He is expected to miss the entire 2013-2014 season.
