KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 16: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers is attended to by a team trainer after colliding into the wall while trying to catch a ball hit by Paulo Orlando #16 of the Kansas City Royals as Justin Upton #8 and manager Brad Ausmus #7 look on in the second inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. Martinez left the game due to the injury. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers star outfielder J.D. Martinez suffered an injury on Thursday night that puts the rest of his season in jeopardy.

Martinez was trying to make a play on a deep flyball off the bat of the Kansas City Royals’ Paulo Orlando, and ran hard into the right field wall at Kauffman Stadium. He was clearly in pain, and weakly threw back to the cutoff man on what would end up being an Orlando triple, before leaving the game.

(Click here for video of the play)

Well, the initial diagnosis on the injury is not good, as Martinez has a fractured right elbow:

So, at least a fractured elbow, and the upcoming CT scan could reveal even more damage. Martinez, 28, has been one of the top position players in the American League over the last three seasons. Per Fangraphs, Martinez had a 4.0 WAR in 2014, and 5.0 WAR in 2015. His 38 homers in 2015 were good for 10th-most in the majors. So far in 2016, he’s put together an outstanding .287/.359/.522 slash line, with 12 homers.

The Tigers are currently 33-32 and two games back in a crowded AL Central race (four teams within 2.5 games of first… then there are the Twins). So, they can’t afford to to lose Martinez for too long.

UPDATE: Martinez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. This is about as “good” of news as the Tigers could’ve hoped for in terms of his return time.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

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