It was supposed to be a routine drill.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders was catching fly balls during a spring training warm up in Dunedin Florida when his foot got caught in a hole that holds a sprinkler head.
The news that came next from team training staff shocked both fans and team executives.
The freak accident will cause the 28 year-old Saunders to miss half of the season and will require surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous said that the time frame for his return will be sometime around the MLB all-star game.
Saunders was a key addition for the Jays in the off-season and was set to replace Melky Cabrera as the starter in left field. Fans of the Jays were also looking forward to watching a Canadian-born athlete playing for Canada’s only MLB team.
Saunders hit eight home runs and 34 RBI last year, with a .273 average.
