The Arizona Diamondbacks have had a down season to say the least. Just when it seemed their season could not get any worse, their All-Star first baseman fractured his left hand.
Paul Goldschmidt suffered the injury Friday night against the Pittsburg Pirates. Pirates pitcher Ernesto Frieri hit Goldschmidt in the left hand with a 93 MPH fastball in the ninth inning of the Diamondbacks 9-4 loss. The injury was more serious than most thought, as Goldschmidt remained in the game. Goldschmidt said his x-rays were inconclusive. However, his hand was wrapped in ice when he was talking to the media.
"I've never had any broken or fractures or anything like that," Goldschmidt said. "It felt ok, but obviously there's still some pain because it hit it pretty good."
Goldschmidt was the starting first baseman for the Nation League All-Star team. It was Goldschmidt's second straight All-Star game and first as a starter. In 109 games with Arizona he was hitting .300 with 75 runs scored, 220 total bases, 39 doubles, 1 triple, 19 home runs, 59 extra base hits, 69 RBI, 64 walks, 9 stolen bases, .396 on base, .542 slugging percentage, and a .938 OPS.
The Diamondbacks have called up Alfredo Marte who will have some big shoes to fill. With the Diamondbacks currently 14 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, do not expect Goldschmidt to be rushed back. There is a possibility that Goldschmidt's season is over. Even though the Diamondbacks are no longer in contention this is still a crushing blow to an already disastrous season.