D-backs’ Christian Walker done for season after taking pitch to face
Sep 25, 2018, 3:33 PM | Updated: 9:45 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) is attended to by head athletic trainer Bryan DiPanfilo, left, after Walker was hit in the face by a pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, in Phoenix. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 7-4. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Diamondbacks will be without Christian Walker for the remaining five games of their season after the first baseman took a pitch to the face in Monday night’s loss to the Dodgers.
Walker’s injury — and its consequence that he’ll be out for the rest of the year — was made known by Torey Lovullo as he joined Burns & Gambo on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Tuesday.
“We are just getting word, he is going to be done for the season,” Lovullo said. “He’s fractured some bones in his face and we’re getting some secondary looks at it to find out exactly what the extent [was]. Very unfortunate news, that’s as much of an update as I have.”
Walker has played 37 games for the Diamondbacks in 2018, coming up to the big league club for multiple stints throughout the year. He’s hit .163 in 53 plate appearances with three home runs, six RBI, two doubles and a stolen base. His OPS is .614. He hits left-handed pitching well, doing so with a .783 OPS and five home runs in 54 career at bats.
Christian Walker sustained a sinus fracture and will not return to game action this season.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 25, 2018
“He came in here and had some real live at bats for us. He actually hit Clayton Kershaw very, very well so that’s why he got the start [Monday],” Lovullo said. “Just a very unfortunate way to end the season, but those things happen in sports and I know that he’ll re-group and be ready for next year.”
Video tweeted by Fox Sports Arizona showed Walker spitting blood after being hit by that pitch.
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“By the time I got out there, he was answering questions and he never lost consciousness,” Lovullo said. “So those are the things that you’re obviously always concerned about. And then the next step is, you’re trying to assess the damage.
“I saw the blood, it didn’t looked good and it was from the nostrils so you knew something internal was happening. We were just holding our breath until we got the word last night that he’s going to be okay, we’re thankful for that, but those broken bones are going to end his season.”
