According to a source, Nationals CA Derek Norris sustained a broken hamate bone yesterday and will not be participating in the Arizona Fall League.
The Nationals confirmed this news and released the following report today …
C Derek Norris fractured his left hamate bone while working out in the Instructional League.
He will have surgery performed by Dr. Thomas Graham in Baltimore to remove the fractured hamate bone on Thursday, October 8.
He is expected to be able to resume baseball activities in December.
This is the same injury suffered by Ryan Zimmerman back in November 2007 and Ian Desmond earlier this year. The recovery times can vary depending upon the severity and the individual player.
Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus spoke with Scout.com in July 2009 about hamate injuries. Here is a portion of what he had to say.
- “A hamate is one of the small bones in the wrist. There are two parts to the bone – the hook and the body. Most surgery is done to remove the hook, which is so fragile that it seldom realigns well. The wrist functions well without it.”
- “There’s some lingering power deficit in the first year, but there’s no long term problems. The recovery time depends on the severity and mechanism of the injury, their pain tolerance, and the individual healing response. People are all different.”
#1 by hleeo3 - October 7th, 2009 at 13:24
Crap…
#2 by Mike Harris - October 7th, 2009 at 13:31
As I just on my blog, natslooser.blogspot.com (cheap plug), great work on getting a scoop. Thanks for ruining my day.
#3 by cjrugger - October 7th, 2009 at 13:41
Eh, that sucks. I was hoping to see what he looked like against top competition. I assume he should be ok for opening day tho (5 months or so)
#4 by exporam - October 7th, 2009 at 13:41
So do the Nats send someone in his stead to Phoenix?
#5 by Brian Oliver - October 7th, 2009 at 13:43
exporam – Great question. Trying to find that out.
#6 by Jeff E. - October 7th, 2009 at 14:17
exporam: notice the top two guys in Blue Jays front office now??? A2 and LeCava!!! Brian- every time I type your name it comes out brain….anyway…what Vegas odds would we place on Rizzo landing Saltamachia from TEX??? is his throwing mechanics worth the price for his punch???? Also, Rizzo speaks about two salty vets to navigate the young Nats mound corp……as in old Expo days…attempt to find lightning in the bottle with Dontrelle Willis…..and Mike’s old pal….Brandon Webb?????? whoever is new farm director ( Jerry DiPoto) or XXX- he should sign Seth Bynim and Devin Ivany just to have some steady hands to lend the AAA shuttle bus. anyother old Rizzo kids still in AZ chain he might have an eye on or a Pirate that Brown/Williams has ties with?? Glad to see Orlando Cabrera lead another club to playoffs…
#7 by VladiHondo - October 7th, 2009 at 14:31
That’s bad for Derek – for a replacement, they (AFL) really probably want a Catcher, they’re down to 2 – one a 19 yr old Toronto kid, and a Tampa Bay 25 yr old. J.P. Arencibia (Toronto) was on the roster a while ago – maybe they bring him back.
Note there are now 3 Japanese pitchers on the squad with no MLB affliation, partly due to the Blue Jays only sending 5. The ONLY lefthanded pitcher on the squad is one of those 3. It seems like a carry over from the Hawaiian Winter League. . . .
#8 by Berndaddy - October 7th, 2009 at 16:31
Brian wasn’t there a scouting note I read somewhere that stated something of Norris’ dropping a lot of balls this year. Maybe his hamate bone has been bothering his catching hand all year long. We can only hope. In either case let’s hope with this operation we stop hearing about hamate bones etc etc etc…
#9 by BinM - October 7th, 2009 at 17:54
Jeff E: Just personal opinion, but if Rizzo looks for a CA in the off-season, it should be for a veteran who can handle a young staff, and who still has an accurate arm; Offensive numbers take a backseat. Any signing would most likely be a 4-A player.
SYR looks to have a couple of infield holes that need to be filled in the off-season – Let’s see the non-tender / released lists before any conclusions are drawn on re-signings.
#10 by Don - October 7th, 2009 at 19:29
Berndaddy, I doubt Norris would catch with a broken hamate. I realize these kids are reluctant to admit to an injury as the trainer will pull them immediately, but a broken hook of the hamate hurts too bad to catch and swing the bat the way Norris did this year. My son also a catcher, took 9 weeks after his surgery to be able to catch or swing a bat without undue discomfort. From time to time he reported a sensation similar to hitting his “funny bone” when he hit a ball out of the “sweet spot” on the wooden bat. It would leave his hand tingling and kind of numb for a minute or two.
#11 by unkle wheez - October 7th, 2009 at 21:59
If there is lingering power lose the first year, I have to wonder how manny homer Zim can hit next year. He had the same surgery a year ago.
#12 by peric - October 8th, 2009 at 02:39
BinM,
Bynum, Leonard Davis, Casto, and Espinosa in SYR MI next year? Seems like there will be at least 4?
#13 by estuartj - October 8th, 2009 at 08:58
Espinoza in SYR next year? No way, he was good, but not overwhelming in High-A and will more likely either repeat in Potomac to start the season or be in Harrisburg (soon to be Richmond Flying Squirells I hope!).
#14 by VladiHondo - October 8th, 2009 at 09:10
It was 2 years ago for Zimmy, not one year ago – from above: “same injury suffered by Ryan Zimmerman back in November 2007″.
It was followed by his only injury year, playing only 106 games with his lowest career OPS of .775 – so maybe a little more time to get full strength for Derek.
#15 by Dick - October 8th, 2009 at 09:51
Certainly Zim was hampered in 2008 by a labrum injury in addition to any lingering effects of his hamate bone issues. Justin Maxwell also had a hamate bone removed in years past.
#16 by e - October 8th, 2009 at 11:16
BinM — I agree that if Rizzo is looking for a catcher it should be for a vet that can handle a pitching staff. My choice would be for them to pry Bengie Molina away from the Giants. I know he’s stated he wants to stay there, but I don’t know if the Giants can afford him, especially with Buster Posey almost ready to take the helm behind the plate for them.
Molina has caught some of the best young pitchers in SF the past couple of years, plays great defense (though his CS% was a little low this season), and while he doesn’t walk, he does put the ball in play and still has a little pop (20 HR).
I say sign him for 2 years. Then hope he plays well for the first part of 2010. Once Flores comes back healthy (okay, if), then see if some team needs a catcher at the trade deadline and send Molina for some prospects. I just have a weird feeling that Flores’ injury will take a lot longer for him to recover from, and that the Nats might want to play it safe a prepare to have a veteran signal caller back there for the whole season so as not to rush Flores.
#17 by Jeff E. - October 8th, 2009 at 13:10
BinM: Yes, a tad early by several years to assume that a key position to be filled with a key talent. The commodities in the cupboard do not have enough shelf life to turn into other key assets. e: Benji makes sense especially considering Moose Stubing was in the Big A with him. Yes, numerous 4-Aers this December.
#18 by BinM - October 8th, 2009 at 17:10
peric: S. Bynum, Castro & Davis are all Rule-V or FA-eligible for 2010. And as estuartj mentioned, it’s highly doubtful that Espinosa would make the jump from high-A (POT) to AAA (SYR) in spring training. My point was that the orginazation has no-one currently under control at the AAA level for both 2B & 3B (Desmond is under team control through 2010 at SS).
#19 by BinM - October 8th, 2009 at 17:17
e: My concern with Flores is that he may be turning into Nick Johnson (freak injuries the last two years, with extended recovery periods). He was on the cusp of a breakout season offensively in 2009, but you have to wonder if he can stay healthy – I also think that given his body type (relatively short, with a thick core), he can’t do much else besides play behind the plate.
#20 by Jeff E. - October 8th, 2009 at 17:37
BinM: yes. a busy December for the org. Back to Brian’s thought earlier this year about Curtis Thigpen (AAA OAK after Jays cut ties). A’s do have Suzuki and Powell. numerous checks being cut to other clubs for AAA/AA talent. maybe even Hi-A. Sure would be nice in the future to see a Nats line-up as L/R balanced as the Rockies….
#21 by BinM - October 8th, 2009 at 18:16
Jeff E: Thigpen makes me a little nervous – wasn’t he out all of 2009 with an injury? I’d still wait to see what the released / non-tendered list looks like before making a move, unless Rizzo has a trade in mind at CA; There may be a few “salary cut” suprises that show up. That having been said, if Rizzo is going to make trades, I think he’ll go after an experienced SP and/or a starting MI first. The parent club is stocked with #4-5 SP’s, and is building some minor-league prospect depth.
#22 by Jeff E. - October 8th, 2009 at 20:37
Bin: minor league prospect depth? wow! June draft could use several LH 1b with some sock/avg, significant Lh hitting OFs…
#23 by BinM - October 8th, 2009 at 21:05
I kind of agree with you, but couldn’t just about every team in both Leagues say the same thing? The Nationals do have Rhinehart(HAR) and Newsome(GCL) in the pipeline at 1B, and Ramirez(VT), Daniel(SYR), Curran(HAG), Burgess(POT) & others as LH hitters in the minors.
#24 by Jeff E. - October 9th, 2009 at 11:11
BinM: here is a good example: look @ the Rockies and how many YEARS the tandem of Helton, Hawpe, Stewart and Gonzalez encompasses. Those you listed have ways to go to reach their full potential. Doesn’t Newsome fall under “too old” line I hear repeated on this cyber forum? Using that line- if Dana Brown found a modern “Roy Hobbs”- he would considered too old???