Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Foot Injury Ends Andrew Miller's Season

Lefthander Andrew Miller has been a surprise member of the Boston Red Sox's bullpen this season.
Unfortunately, he was told Monday that his season is over because he needs surgery on his left foot.
Dr. George Theodore, a foot specialist, diagnosed Miller with the dreaded Lisfranc injury. It was determined that Miller has a torn ligament between bones in the middle of his foot. Miller has decided to get a second opinion before scheduling surgery, but the Red Sox do not believe the diagnosis will change.
Miller sustained the injury when he replaced Ryan Dempster in the seventh inning of Saturday's game and faced just one batter before going down with the injury. He came in to pitch with one out in the seventh and threw a wild pitch to J. B. Shuck at the plate, which allowed Chris Iannetta to take second base. Shuck then singled to center field and Miller jumped off the mound and headed to home to play a potential play. Miller fell to the ground in pain and grabbed his foot.
Miller was helped off the field by John Farrell and the team's trainer and looked like he couldn't put any weight on his left foot. After the game Farrell said Miller sustained a foot injury and was having X-rays done at the hospital, but that was the only information available.
When asked the significance of the loss, Farrell said, "Very. Given the way he's pitched and the importance of that power lefthander in the bullpen, it is."
Miller is currently third on the team with 37 appearances with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Over 30 innings he has struck out 48.
Miller was once a first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers but struggled with command early in his career and was traded twice. The Red Sox however showed patience with the 6 foot 7 inch lefty by first starting him and then placing him in the bullpen, changing his mechanics.
This season has been Miller's best in the Majors, with him proving reliable in late innings.
"Obviously on a personal level, it's disappointing and from a team perspective we'll miss him," said Craig Breslow, now the only left handed pitcher in the bullpen. "This team has shown we're pretty resilient and we've had to overcome some key injuries. This is another one. We have no option but to keep on moving forward.
"Andrew been trending upward the last couple of years at a pretty rapid pace. His potential has been documented and he was finally realizing. It's got to be a tough blow for him."
Farrell agrees: "He was well on his way to becoming a dominant lefthanded reliever."
References: Boston Globe and NESN.
If you are a baseball player and have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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