Bobby Witt Jr. has a Grade 1 MCL sprain, according to Anne Rogers. Witt exited Thursday night’s game against the Cardinals in the fourth inning with right knee discomfort after sliding on the grass to field a ground ball. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a Grade 1 MCL injury can heal on its own within 1-3 weeks. After Witt received his MRI, manager Matt Quatraro called the diagnosis a “best case scenario.”
Witt leads all position players in baseball in fWAR at 4.5, and is hitting .294/.368/.465 with 10 home runs and 28 steals this year. His injury further decimates a roster hit hard by injury lately. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is already on the Injured List, and third baseman Maikel Garcia has missed time recently with a hand injury and is out of the lineup tonight. Additionally, the pitching staff is missing starters Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans, and relievers Nick Mears and Carlos Estévez. Tyler Tolbert gets the start at shortstop tonight against the Cardinals.
