Injuries mount amongst key youngsters

Today was a bad day for Tampa Bay Rays baseball, and the worst part is, it is not even over yet.

Typically, the Rays are a club that avoids the injury bug pretty well. With the exception of Akinori Iwamura and Troy Percival spending extended periods of time on the DL over the last two years, the Rays stay relatively healthy and injury free.

That is not the case today.

Top outfield prospect Desmond Jennings, and stud pitcher David Price BOTH sustained injuries against this week.

Price was hit by a broken back, leaving a laceration on his right (non pitching) hand, and Jennings will be out the next week with a sprained wrist.

While Price’s injury was more of a “freak” accident, it looks like he will not miss any extended time.

Price was quoted as saying “It was more of a scare than anything else” and that “he should be fine”. Though it happened so quick, he does not remember what happened, Price went on to say that he should be fine to make his next start.

That is a huge sigh of relief for Rays players and fans alike, as many are expecting Price to regain some of the dominance he saw during the World Series run of 2008.

Jennings, who is expected by most to start the season–and stay–in Durham, injured his wrist while sliding on Monday. The stud out fielding prospect is expected to wear a splint for the next 7-10 days. Maybe now Pat Burrell will get some more reps in right field, shaking off the rust so newly acquired Hank Blalock can DH and Burrell can take some turns in the field to cure his “bordem” of being in Tampa Bay.

Also worth noting, key infield back up Willy Aybar has missed most of this spring with a sprained wrist. Their have been grumblings that Aybar may start the season on the DL, to clear room for Blalock to make the 25 man roster, but I am sure that will all pan out in the next few weeks as we see play go deeper into the spring training season.