Despite Negative X-Rays and No Breaks, Astros’ Kyle Tucker on Crutches Awaiting Crucial Follow-Up Tests

Kyle Tucker found himself hobbling on crutches after a terrifying foul ball incident during Monday night’s Houston Astros’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The chilling sound of the ball ricocheting off his shin could almost be heard through the stadium, followed by Tucker’s audible groans of pain, captured even by the on-field microphone.

The sight of their leading home run hitter and Gold Glove winner collapsing to the ground sent shivers down the spines of Astros fans, who feared they were looking at a potential season-ending injury. A 27-year-old offensive force this season, Tucker entered Monday night leading American League players in walk-to-strikeout ratio (1.12) while ranking second in both walks (46) and homers (19). The thought of losing him for any extended period would devastate their already shaky playoff hopes. But there was some good news that came out of it.

The news was broken yesterday, as The Athletic’s beat writer Chandler Rome tweeted, “Kyle Tucker needed crutches to get around the Astros’ clubhouse, but said X-rays were negative and nothing is broken. He expects to undergo more tests tomorrow.” It was a much-needed update for concerned fans who saw a gruesome scene Wednesday night and held their breath.

Astros fans can breathe easy knowing X-rays on Kyle Tucker’s injured shin came back negative, but he was still using crutches to get around the clubhouse after the game—an indication that this is no minor bruise. Manager Joe Espada has confirmed the positive news himself, stating, “We did some X-rays and nothing was broken or anything.” Tucker has echoed the sentiment as well, though clearly still in pain, saying, “So I’m sure we’ll do some more stuff tomorrow and whatnot. Right now it’s just kind of hurting but it’s all right, we’ll get through it.”

Despite the good X-ray results, Tucker’s usage of crutches inside the clubhouse showed how serious the injury was. The Astros are cautiously optimistic but also know that depending on what they find in further tests he is scheduled to take on Tuesday, he could wind up on the injured list.

Update on Kyle Tucker’s condition offers a sigh of relief, but concerns linger

Tucker fouled off a 2-1 sweeper from Cardinals right-hander Kyle Gibson just above his shin guard in the bottom of the third inning. He immediately collapsed and stayed down for an extended period while being attended to by the Astros’ medical staff before eventually getting to his feet and limping off the field, while being replaced by pinch-hitter Mauricio Dubon.

While the injury scare overshadowed the game itself, the Astros have rallied for a 7-4 victory over the Cardinals. The win, however bittersweet it was, as they also learned that pitcher Jose Urquidy might need season-ending surgery on his arm, comes with a breath of relief with Tucker’s immediate update. The double whammy of potentially losing two key players left a somber mood in the clubhouse.

This isn’t Kyle Tucker’s first time dealing with such an ailment; last April, he had a pitch drift inside and foul off his leg. Though he bounced back relatively quickly then, Houston is taking no chances now. The team now awaits further updates on Tucker’s condition, their fate hanging in the balance. If Tucker is forced to miss significant time, it could be a death knell for their season. But if he can make a speedy recovery, it will undoubtedly provide a much-needed boost to a team already battling adversity.

In the meantime, they’ll cross their fingers for good news from Tuesday’s follow-up tests. It’s a wait-and-see filled with anxiety and uncertainty until then. As Tucker himself put it, “We’ll get through it.”