Matt Albers was fully recovered from a 2014 shoulder issue and off to a strong start with the White Sox. So the right-hander said the finger injury he sustained during Thursday’s brawl, and the stint on the 15-day disabled list that will follow it, takes on added frustration.
“I don’t know exactly how it happened, but I think I guess either somehow either somebody backed into me, jammed it, or trying to grab somebody,” Albers said. “I’m not exactly sure how it happened. It happened pretty fast out there.”
Albers suffered a compression fracture on his right pinky finger in the melee and said he expects to be back in a couple of weeks. Albers said it’s “pretty impossible” to throw with the injury given the pain and difficulty of gripping a ball.
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The brawl started Thursday night when White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton and Royals starter Yordano Ventura exchanged heated words, leading to both benches and bullpens clearing for a full-scale fight. Albers said he didn’t feel like an aggressor in the fracas and was trying to break it up but doesn’t regret joining his teammates — two of whom, Jeff Samardzija and Chris Sale, received five-game suspensions they’re currently appealing.
Right-hander Scott Carroll was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Albers on the active roster. Through four games, the 32-year-old Albers had a 1.59 ERA with five strikeouts and one walk. He missed all but eight games in 2014 due to tendonitis (and a few recovery setbacks) in his right shoulder.
“It’s a little frustrating, a little disappointing that it happened like that,” Albers said. “But just got to kind of roll with it. Hopefully, it won’t be too long. Hopefully a few weeks, from what I heard and you know, how I’m feeling and everything. Hopefully a few weeks I’ll be back, ready to go.”