San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his Major League baseball career on Friday (Saturday AEST) after a dirt bike accident sent him to hospital with bruised ribs and a sprained joint in his pitching shoulder.
San Francisco announced Bumgarner's injury on Friday afternoon, a day after the accident occurred during an off day in Colorado. Manager Bruce Bochy said Bumgarner hit a slippery spot and went down.
Bumgarner drove himself to the Giants' hotel, called team head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and went to hospital, where doctors ran tests including X-rays, an MRI and a CT scan.
The plan is for him to remain with the team in Denver, Bochy said. Bumgarner is scheduled to be re-evaluated next week, and the Giants will then have a better idea of a timetable for his return.
"Here's a young guy, like a lot of us, you think you're invincible," Bochy said before the Giants opened a three-game series with the Rockies.
"Our focus, it's on, 'Let's get him healthy.' It's happened. Let's get him well and get him back on the mound. Hopefully, it's a lesson learned ... You've got to be careful in some of these activities we do."
This was Bochy's first day back, too. He missed a two-game series at Kansas City following a heart procedure.
"I feel great. I'm ready to roll. It's good to be back," said Bochy, who went in after dealing with an occasional atrial flutter following his workouts.
"Good to be with the club and get back into rhythm, I guess you could say. Glad to be back here."
The 27-year-old Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, is 0-3 with a 3.00 ERA in four 2017 starts.
