In 2009, Kendrys Morales hit .306 with 34 home runs and 108 runs battled in to finish fifth in American League most valuable player balloting. He was viewed as an up-and-coming slugger poised to be a fixture in the middle of the Angels’ lineup for years to come.
Two years and one gigantic fluke injury later and Morales is now arguably the biggest question mark in baseball.
Last June, Morales underwent surgery in which a pin and six screws were inserted into his ankle after he broke it while jumping on home plate in celebration of a walk-off home run against the Mariners. The injury almost became a punch line for baseball observers who couldn’t believe that a player would actually get hurt celebrating a home run.
But the situation is far from a joking matter. On Wednesday night, word spread that Morales will have to underdog surgery on the same ankle to remove scar tissue. The procedure will sideline him for a minimum of six months, meaning his entire 2011 season has been wiped out. By the time he steps foot on the diamond again, it’ll almost be two full years that he missed thanks to this freak injury.
The good news is that Morales, who is only 27, will still be in the prime of his career. He still has plenty of time to be the player he was in 2009, but the concern is how long that’ll take. Assuming the ankle heels this time, it could be two years before Morales finds his swing again. Getting used to major league pitching isn’t like climbing up on a bike after a two-year lay off. It’s why most young players need 3-4 years of development in the minor leagues to make a contribution at the big league level. Simply put, it takes a while for players to find their strokes.
Morales certainly has a long road ahead of him to get back to being the player he was in ’09. And here’s hoping he does. Baseball needs all of its bright young stars to be healthy and active, and Morales is no different.
