Another day, another MLB pitcher sidelined because of a bizarre injury. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta is the latest victim of what is becoming a recurring theme with spring training now underway. Peralta is going to be sidelined for a short while with a neck injury, and you’ll never guess how he hurt it. Actually, you probably can guess with the way things have been going.
According to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via ESPN’s Jayson Stark), the 36-year-old right-hander tweaked his neck while stopping off to grab a sandwich.
Here’s one for the weird spring injury lists @jaysonst: #Rays Peralta hurt his neck getting out of car when he stopped for sandwiches.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 13, 2013
He was still able to get the sandwiches. Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune added that it was a Camaro that Peralta was getting out of, so you can understand how climbing out of a low vehicle like that may be a challenge for someone who will be 37 next month.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: these guys need a plastic bubble. Pitchers and catchers just reported to camp this week, and we have already had pitchers suffer significant injuries while playing with their children and shoveling out their driveway. Fortunately, Peralta’s injury is not believed to be serious and he is not expected to miss much time. That being said, it is only Feb. 13. There’s no telling what the next two months will bring. Fingers crossed.
