Just one day after Brandon Nimmo was hospitalized after fainting in his hotel room, J.D. Martinez was mysteriously scratched with what the team said was a sore ankle due to a pair of cleats he had worn on Monday.
The New York Mets have been plagued by a series of bizarre injuries this season, and the latest victim is outfielder J.D. Martinez. Just one day after Brandon Nimmo was hospitalized after fainting in his hotel room, Martinez was mysteriously scratched with what the team said was a sore ankle.
It doesn't seem like it's anything long term, but Martinez said it was due to a pair of cleats he had worn on Monday.
Mets' Injury Woes Continue: J.D. Martinez Scratched with Sore Ankle Due to Cleats
"If I’m being quite frank, I haven’t gotten my shipment of cleats in, and I had to try a new cleat yesterday…" Martinez said Tuesday night. "I woke up this morning and my ankle was sore... Went to go hit in the cage, and there was a sharp pain in my ankle."
That was when Martinez decided he needed a day off.
Mets' Injury Woes Continue: J.D. Martinez Scratched with Sore Ankle Due to Cleats
Martinez said he uses a new pair of Adidas cleats every three or four days, but the new pair had an extra metal spike that he feels causes the soreness.
"Just moving and hitting on a brand-new shoe is different," he said.
Mets' Injury Woes Continue: J.D. Martinez Scratched with Sore Ankle Due to Cleats
Martinez said he has since removed the excess spike, but prefers that his usual cleats come in.
The Mets missed Martinez for the first nine innings, but they scored five runs in the 10th inning to take down their NL East rival Washington Nationals, 7-2.
Martinez is hitting .278 with an .853 OPS in 56 games played this season. He missed nearly a month due to signing so late in the offseason that the Mets put him in extended spring training. He then suffered an injury that caused him to miss more time.
The Mets have fought right back into the postseason discussion after winning 18 of their last 24 games. Their 42-41 overall record puts them at just a game back of the final wild card spot.
Martinez's injury is just the latest in a string of bizarre ailments that have plagued the Mets this season. In addition to Nimmo's fainting spell, starting pitcher Max Scherzer has been dealing with a sore oblique and closer Edwin Diaz has been battling a sore back.
The Mets have managed to overcome these injuries and stay in contention for a playoff spot, but they will need to get healthy soon if they want to make a serious run at the World Series.
