Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe was initially diagnosed with a fractured left big toe after fouling off pitches on Monday night. However, an MRI scan revealed better news: it’s just a bone bruise with a stress reaction.
This avoids surgery and the lengthy recovery time that comes with it. Renfroe is now expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks instead of the initial 6-8 week estimate.
Key Points:
- Renfroe injured his toe fouling off pitches against the Yankees.
- Initial X-ray showed a fracture, but MRI revealed a less severe bone bruise.
- He’ll avoid surgery and is expected back in 2-3 weeks.
- This is a blow to the Royals’ lineup as Renfroe had been hitting well recently.
- Drew Waters will be called up from Triple-A to fill Renfroe’s roster spot.
Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe was initially placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a suspected fractured left big toe. However, good news emerged on Wednesday after an MRI scan revealed a less serious injury.
Initial Injury and Concerns:
- Renfroe suffered the injury fouling off pitches during a 12-pitch at-bat against Yankees starter Carlos Rodón on Monday night.
- He left the game two innings later and the Royals initially feared a fracture based on X-ray results.
Positive Update:
- An MRI scan revealed a bone bruise with a stress reaction, not a fracture.
- This avoids surgery and the previously anticipated 6-8 week recovery timeline.
- Renfroe could be back in 2-3 weeks, depending on pain tolerance and rehab progress.
Impact on the Royals:
- Renfroe’s absence weakens the Royals’ lineup, especially considering his recent hot streak.
- He was batting .302 with 7 doubles, 3 homers, and 13 RBIs in his last 27 games.
- The Royals outfield ranks second-worst in MLB in batting average and on-base percentage.
Looking Ahead:
- Drew Waters has been called up from Triple-A Omaha to fill Renfroe’s roster spot.
- Waters has shown power with 7 homers this season in the minors but also struggles with strikeouts (26.6% in Triple-A).
While Renfroe’s injury is a blow, the revised timeline offers a sigh of relief for the Royals. They’ll hope Waters can provide some offensive production in his absence.
