Houston Astros Report: Why Evan Gattis is heading to the DL

After just coming off the concussion DL on Friday from an injury lasting three weeks, Houston Astros catcher Evan Gattis is being sidelined….yet again!

Evan Gattis has had nothing but bad luck and misfortune in this 2017 season with the Houston Astros. He is now heading back to the 10 day DL, with what the team is calling “right wrist soreness.”

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was the first to break the news this morning:

Additionally, Feinsand went on to report earlier today that this particular injury could sideline Evan Gattis for 10-14 days. This development is anything but good news, since he was just activated from the concussion DL last Friday.

Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle also reported today that this wrist injury was sustained when Gattis blocked a pitch in the dirt sometime during the weekend series in Anaheim. Skipper A.J. Hinch had this to say about it in that same article:

"“He didn’t report anything. He didn’t really even flinch. And then over the course of the last couple of days, he’s gotten really sore,” Hinch said of Gattis’ wrist injury. “He didn’t look right throwing the ball the other day. He had a lot of wrist soreness. … We’re going to get him evaluated by the doctors.”"

Mystery Machine

The whole situation brings up more questions than answers. Was the communication breakdown really on the part of Evan Gattis? OR Did the team know something earlier and neglected to do anything about it? Who really wanted him to “play through the pain?”

El Oso Blanco really hasn’t been able to shake off the rust these past 6 days. In three games played, he is only 1-for-12 with a single, a pair of strikeouts, and a very rare GIDP. He only has seven of those (GIDP, or ground into double plays) on the whole season.

Bringing him back early from rehab may not have been the best idea, but Hurricane Harvey ultimately made that decision. Is this new wrist injury a possible blessing in disguise? I would side with no, because it is NEVER a good thing to have any player injured. Most especially, one like Evan Gattis.

However, there’s just no telling sometimes. The waiting game now has to be played again.

“Bear’s” Repeating!

As many readers out there know already, I extensively highlight Evan Gattis in my fan blog on him, The White Bear Chronicles. My two most recent pieces here at House of Houston have focused on him being the forgotten man of 2017 and how injury reports on him all season long have been vague at best.

Those sentiments ring more true now than ever. The hope is that the doctors will not find anything seriously wrong with him, and he can return in the 10 day minimum. However, a fracture or something more serious could sideline him for the rest of the season.

That’s the last thing someone like Evan Gattis needs right now. He’s become a much more disciplined hitter in 2017. Despite fewer home runs, has really contributed greatly on offense, and to the overall success of this Houston Astros team.

Unfortunately, at current pace, El Oso Blanco, or Bull as he likes to be called, will be lucky if he gets 300 at-bats this season. All of this after 2016 saw him with a .251 BA and .827 OPS, a team leading 32 home runs, and a top 5 in the club (4th only behind the 3 All Stars of 2017 in George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa) 72 RBI through 447 at-bats. For further context, he only has 253 at-bats so far in 2017.

The postseason is even more cause for further playing time woes for the Bull-Bear. Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann look to get the most starts out of his two positions. Those two positions, for those that don’t know, are catching and DH.

Bruised, But Not Beaten!

Many critics would be too quick to say that the Bull-Bear is somehow frail and injury prone. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The mere fact that he was willing to play in spite of the pain actually shows greater strength than folks actually realize.

Evan Gattis is a very valuable part of this Houston Astros roster. A bat like his, which hasn’t fallen below a .263 batting average all season, will be sorely needed down the stretch. Not to mention, his overall team attitude and treatment of the fans and media is a rare gift in this sport. The organization needs to cherish that, and not squander it.

With Gattis having one more season before free agency, Jeff Luhnow may want to lock him up to a multi year deal now. At the very least, work on something this winter to keep him around for a few more years while prospects develop, or to keep catching depth in tact.

Next: THREE ways the Astros can be an escape from Hurricane Harvey

More Bull-Bear bombs are needed, and fast! I know I join the rest of the staff here at HOH in wishing the bull-bear the speediest recovery possible!

GO HOUSTON ASTROS! #HoustonStrong!