The Padres’ pursuit of the NL West Crown took a tough turn on Monday night with Jason Adam suffering a significant left quadriceps tendon injury.
Adam left the field in a cart after an infield single by the Orioles’ shortstop, Gunnar Henderson.
“I knew it wasn’t good because I felt a pop, and it felt like my quad rolled up,” Adam mentioned after the Padres’ 4-3 loss. “It was painful at first, so I thought, ‘Did we go outside?’ Now I’m just waiting to see how long I’ll be out.”
Fans reacted with concern as Adam exited, and unfortunately, during this incident, the Orioles scored a run that impacted the game’s momentum.
At 34, Adam has been instrumental in the Padres possessing the best bullpen ERA in baseball at 3.11. He recorded an 8-4 record alongside a notable 1.93 ERA over 65 1/3 innings, while striking out 70 batters.
Given the current standings, the Padres are chasing the Dodgers, trailing by 2.5 games. Losing a key player like Adam is definitely a setback, especially this late in the season. Adam appeared to sustain the injury as Henderson hit an 88 mph changeup.
While on the ground in visible pain, Adam was checked by teammates and a coach, but he couldn’t continue playing. After the game, he spoke to the media on crutches, wearing a large brace on his knee, indicating that he might be out for six to nine months.
“That’s the toughest part,” he expressed. “Recovery is what it is. You want to be there with the team every day. This group has the mentality and talent to win the World Series, and it’s hard to sit on the sidelines.”
Teammate Mason Miller found the injury “heartbreaking,” but manager Mike Schilt acknowledged Adam’s importance and the gap his absence would create.
“We have a great clubhouse and a great guy,” Schilt stated. “Jason is respected and means a lot to us. We will miss him dearly.”
Currently, the Padres hold a second wildcard spot, sitting three games behind the Cubs for the first wildcard and two games ahead of the Mets in the race for the final NL playoff spot.
The bullpen remains relatively strong with recent trades securing new players, which gives Adam some comfort. “I’m really glad they went out to get Mason,” he commented. “This bullpen is deep, so I won’t be needed every day, and I’m excited to support my teammates.”
