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This spring, it looked like the Padres might put three catchers on the 25-man roster. Derek Norris was obviously the lead man for the job, but Christian Bethancourt and Austin Hedges both made impressive cases. But Hedges needed more development time and Bethancourt was out of options, so the former got sent back to El Paso.
And it seemed like things were going well for Hedges there. He was hitting .333/.385/.583 in ten games for the Chihuahuas. Emphasis on was. On Saturday he was placed on the 7-day disabled list with a hand contusion (that's doctor-speak for bruise). No big deal, walk it off. Right? Right? Yeah, about that. Padres fans don't get nice things and Hedges actually has a fractured hamate. Per MLB.com's AJ Casavell:
No specific date has been set for Hedges' surgery, but the injury typically requires a recovery period of at least six to eight weeks.
If that injury sounds familiar, former Friar Everth Cabrera broke both his left and right hamate in a span of two years. Hopefully Hedges can keep his other one safe and return to his hot hitting ways.