Under The Knife 4/16/25

Exit Stage Rox

Remember that long intro I said would be here today? It got longer, so there will be a UTK Special tomorrow. For now, let’s just get to the injuries:

KRIS BRYANT, OF COL (inflamed spine)

When a ball club starts saying words like “degenerative,” it’s usually a signal. The second half of Kris Bryant’s career hasn’t been what anyone would have expected. Back injuries can sap everything and being a negative WAR player since coming to Colorado is exactly what no one expected. A decade ago, Bryant was on top of the world and that World Series ring can never be taken from him (or the long-suffering Cubs fans).

The Rockies placed Bryant on the IL with “degenerative lumbar disc disease” and this could be the end. He’s seen specialists before and there’s sure to be some, but players don’t often come back from the types of back surgery Bryant may need. He’s likely to have it anyway, since at age-33, he still has plenty of life ahead of him and plenty of money in the bank. Having a bad back for time with his kids or travel with his family isn’t good, so like most, a fusion could offer some relief, if likely ending his baseball career.

The case that comes to mind is David Wright, whose back was complicated by stenosis. There’s not a more positive one that came up in discussions. For a sport like baseball that requires rotation and explosiveness, you can imagine this might be the anti-matter to baseball’s matter. Hitting, throwing, almost everything requires not just rotation, but comfort and “free-ness.”

Bryant is signed through 2028, so the Rockies are likely to give him chances to come back since the cost is sunk, but with the performance having seemingly been sapped from him, even the thin air may not help. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Bryant work out a retirement agreement.

‘Possible career ender’ is heavy, but there’s actually some good news below the paywall. You should subscribe and get it all!