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Adam Eaton of Washington Nationals out for season with torn left ACL
Washington Nationals center fielder Adam Eaton, who was carried off the field Friday, has a torn left ACL and will not play again this season, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.
The team announced earlier Saturday that Eaton had been placed on the disabled list with what was initially diagnosed as a left knee strain.
Eaton suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Friday's 7-5 loss to the New York Mets on a bang-bang play at first base. He hit a roller to the left side of the infield and just barely beat the throw to first. After reaching the bag, he collapsed in a heap, and the crowd at Nationals Park fell silent.
The 28-year-old outfielder, acquired in a blockbuster December trade with the Chicago White Sox that included the Nationals' top two pitching prospects plus a 2016 first-round draft choice, was hitting .297 with two homers and 13 RBIs. His .393 on-base percentage is the second-best among leadoff hitters (minimum 50 plate appearances from that spot), trailing only Toronto's Kevin Pillar (.418).
Since his first full season in 2014, Eaton has been one of the most valuable outfielders in baseball, with only four others accounting for more Wins Above Replacement.
The team announced earlier Saturday that Eaton had been placed on the disabled list with what was initially diagnosed as a left knee strain.
Eaton suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Friday's 7-5 loss to the New York Mets on a bang-bang play at first base. He hit a roller to the left side of the infield and just barely beat the throw to first. After reaching the bag, he collapsed in a heap, and the crowd at Nationals Park fell silent.
The 28-year-old outfielder, acquired in a blockbuster December trade with the Chicago White Sox that included the Nationals' top two pitching prospects plus a 2016 first-round draft choice, was hitting .297 with two homers and 13 RBIs. His .393 on-base percentage is the second-best among leadoff hitters (minimum 50 plate appearances from that spot), trailing only Toronto's Kevin Pillar (.418).
Since his first full season in 2014, Eaton has been one of the most valuable outfielders in baseball, with only four others accounting for more Wins Above Replacement.