Edwin Encarnación of the Dominican Republic and the New York Yankees was diagnosed with a fracture in his right wrist during a game against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 3. A pitch by Josh Smith struck Encarnación’s wrist during the eighth inning of the game, which the Yankees won 9-2. It is unknown which bone specifically the pitch fractured in Encarnación’s wrist. Within the next seven to ten days, the team said Encarnación’s injury will be reassessed to determine the next steps for recovery.  That indicates that it is unlikely to be the scaphoid or other major bone.

Kevin Kiermaier, an American baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays, sprained his left thumb on July 20 when he slid headfirst into first base while playing against the Chicago White Sox. He had an MRI, which–as we often discuss on this site–is not typical. Physical examination of the metacarpophalangeal joint usually provides sufficient information. MRI can be difficult to execute and interpret. The team indicated no surgery is needed, meaning the ligament is in a position that it can heal naturally. Kiermaier will return to play in a couple of weeks.

On Friday, March 8th, Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager injured his left hand when attempting to dive and catch a ball. Initial X-rays showed no fracture or dislocation. On March 12th, Seager underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb. Seager’s injury likely occurred when the thumb was forcefully radially deviated.

This is likely an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the joint between the metacarpal and the proximal phalanx of the thumb (MCP joint). The second joint of the thumb.  The UCL is the structure that stabilizes the MCP joint on the side of the thumb that faces the rest of the hand. When it ruptures this ligament pulls off the phalanx. The part of the ligament towards the tip of the thumb comes off the bone. If that end of the ligament flips over the top of another structure in the area (the adductor aponeurosis), it won’t heal back and the thumb will be loose with pinch.  It can be difficult to tell by examination (or even MRI) if the ligament is in this non-healing position. People often consider surgery when there is substantial laxity and the possibility of not healing is higher.

Timetable to return is described as 10-12 weeks. That means that he might plan to return when the ligament is about 80% strength, which is reasonable.