Injuries are a part of the game and seemingly can happen at any time. It’s not different with the Orioles than any other team; however, when the injury bug hits one of your main cogs in the machine, there’s always cause for concern.
Today, it was revealed that leadoff hitter and second baseman, Brian Roberts is suffering through some back issues.
From the Baltimore Sun: Second baseman Brian Roberts reported to camp today and revealed that he was diagnosed with a “small” herniated disk in his lower back. He worked out lightly today, but said his activities will be limited early in camp. He also is scheduled to film an Orioles commercial today, but we’ll save the wisecrack about that for another time.
The injury surfaced a month ago while he was training. He said that he thought it was a back spasm, which he had experienced before, but eventually was treated for kidney stones. When the discomfort did not respond to that treatment, he underwent a spinal examination that revealed the herniation.
Meanwhile, the second baseman revealed his thoughts to MASN’S Roch Kubatko:
“I’m on the right track now,” he said.
“It’s going to be a little slow in the beginning, but it shouldn’t set me back for April 6.”
Roberts never had kidney stones, but he was treated for them initially because the symptoms were the same. Once a week passed, but not a stone, Roberts underwent another examinaton and learned of his injury.
“It set me back a couple weeks, but we’re starting to progress,” he said. “We’re still going to have to take it slow with the hitting, just so we don’t have any setbacks.
“I was working out and thought I had back spasms like I’ve gotten before, but it just kind of lingered. That’s when we decided to dig a little deeper.”
Roberts will do some light hitting tomorrow to test the back. He worked out in the weight room this afternoon after taking his physical.
“Any time you hear disk or you hear back, it’s frightening,” he said. “We tried to all do our due diligence and be seen by the right people and get the right advice, and I think we did that.”
It definitely looks like Brian is on the mend, and for the time being, he should be ready for the season.
The latest news out of camp probably isn’t that big of a deal; however, much like what was revealed with Bergesen and the shooting of his commercial, it’s very disconcerting to her bad news like this, especially when it involves a pillar of the franchise.
