The US state of Arizona is probably most popularly known for two things: One, its Wild West roots, a southwestern frontier land that owes its modern origins to the pioneers and cowboys who made their way west in America in the 1800s. The second thing the Mexico-bordering state is known for is basically being a giant desert, with large swathes of its territory dotted only by an abundance of cactuses.
Arizona is also one of two places to host baseball’s annual spring training pre-season period, along with Florida. Appropriately, the Arizona spring competition is known as the ‘Cactus League’.
One pitcher on the Milwaukee Brewers, unfortunately, kicked off his Cactus League season a bit too literally.
Francisco Rodriguez, who burst onto the scene as an electrifying rookie with the then-Anaheim Angels way back in 2002, injured his foot by stepping onto a cactus.
The Milwaukee Brewers reliever was, according to the Associated Press, set to make his spring debut on Thursday after visa issues kept the Venezuelan from reporting to camp on time.
Then he arrived in Arizona and found himself in a, well, thorny situation.
“He took out a lot of the thorns, but there some more in there,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told the AP. “I don’t think it’s that big of a setback, but I imagine he’s pretty sore today.”
Rodriguez signed with Milwaukee as a free agent in 2011 and pitched for the Brewers until July of last year, when he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles to help solidify their bullpen as they competed for a play-off spot.
He returned to the Brewers this off-season, signing a one-year, $3.25 million (Dh11.9m) deal.
“He may come in today and say, ‘I’m pitching.”’ Roenicke said. “The way he is. It’s tough to keep him back, so he may end up pitching tomorrow. I just have to talk to him and see how he’s doing.”
Rodriguez posted a sterling 1.09 ERA in 24 2/3 innings for the Brewers last season before the trade, then disappointed a bit in Baltimore with a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings. Overall, he had a 2.70 ERA, 10 saves and 54 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings for the 2013 season.
He has a career 2.70 ERA in 767 1/3 innings since 2002, with 304 career saves.
Nicknamed ‘K-Rod’, Rodriguez’s brush with a cactus is only the latest in a line of weird Brewers injuries. According the to AP, pitcher Zack Greinke began the 2011 season on the disabled list after getting hurt during a pickup basketball game, and general manager Doug Melvin was bit by a scorpion last year. In 1994, pitcher Steve Sparks separated a shoulder trying to tear a phone book in half.
The 2014 Major League Baseball season will begin for real with an international opening series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks in Sydney, Australia from March 22-23. Then the Dodgers will return to the States to face the San Diego Padres for MLB’s opening night on March 30.
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