Sometimes, fans like to joke that they wish their favorite Major League Baseball players were wrapped in bubble wrap in between games so they couldn’t be injured. Every so often, a baseball player injury comes along that makes you wonder, “you know, that’s not a terrible idea.”
Oakland A’s reliever Shawn Kelley is the latest MLB player to join the prestigious “he injured himself HOW?” club by cutting his hand while doing the dishes.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Kelley lacerated the top of his left thumb on a sharp knife while cleaning up after dinner. Apparently, there was “lots of blood,” which is never a good sign. However, the right-handed pitcher did tell Slusser that he thinks he can pitch on Friday.
What I learned today: never do dishes. Shawn Kelley tells me he lacerated the top of his left thumb while washing a “very very sharp knife” last Friday. Lots of blood. He thinks he can pitch Friday.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 5, 2018
Hopefully, Kelley didn’t throw a temper tantrum this time. He got in enough trouble for doing that the first time.
Kelley is the second MLB pitcher to injure his hand on houseware in as many weeks. Justin Upton landed on the DL a few weeks back after cutting his finger on a wine glass. And when that happened, our Matt Clapp ran down the ever-growing list of MLB players who have injured themselves in weird and curious ways. We present that list to you once more:
- Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas injured his back while lifting his child in July (while a member of the Royals).
- Royals catcher Salvador Perez tore his MCL while carrying luggage in March.
- Cubs closer Brandon Morrow injured his back while taking off his pants in June.
- Nationals reliever Greg Holland missed time last year with the Rockies after cutting himself with a kitchen knife.
- Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin missed time in 2016 after sauna wooziness caused him to slip in the shower.
- Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer had a start pushed back during the 2016 ALCS after cutting his finger while repairing a drone.
- Diamondbacks reliever Jake Diekman cut his finger on a broken souvenir mug in 2016 with the Rangers.
- And Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan tore his labrum last season while jumping from a boat.
What is it about baseball players injuring themselves while doing routine chores and/or just hanging out? We’ll keep asking ourselves this question and we’ll all meet back in a few weeks when another baseball player injures themselves while, I don’t know, changing a lightbulb.
