Accident puts Giants’ ace on DL
DENVER — Madison Bumgarner was zooming around on a dirt bike during his team’s day off when he hit a slippery spot and crashed.
The freak accident landed him on the disabled list for the first time in his big league career Friday and left the Giants coping with the loss of their ace as they struggle through a rough start.
The left-hander bruised his ribs and a sprained a joint in his pitching shoulder from the wipeout, which occurred Thursday.
According to ESPN, the Giants are concerned Bumgarner could miss more than two months because of the injury.
Manager Bruce Bochy said that Bumgarner drove himself to the hotel, called team head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and went to the hospital, where doctors ran tests that included X-rays, an MRI and a CT scan. The plan is for him to remain with the team in Denver.
“Here’s a young guy, like a lot of us, you think you’re invincible,” Bochy said before the Giants opened a threegame 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.”