Newest OF Palma thankful to be on field after broken leg

TRENTON >> In the aftermath of a devastating injury, there were moments when Alexander Palma didn’t know if he’d ever get back on the field.

The long road to recovery from a broken right leg has finally led Palma to the Thunder when he was activated to the roster on Sunday.

“It was a very bad injury and there was a chance I may not come back to the field,” Palma said through a translator before making his Double-A debut against Reading. “I put a lot of effort into the rehab and I made it.”

Palma suffered a tip fib fracture last July 2 while with High-A Tampa when he collided with teammate Diego Castillo going after a shallow pop fly. He had to be taken from the field in an ambulance.

“This is kind of a heartbreaking story,” said Thunder manager Patrick Osborn, who was the skipper in Tampa last season. “He had to have been within days of being called up (to DoubleA).”

The injury kept the 23-year-old out of action for almost a full calendar year. He played in a competitive game for the first time on June 29 with the Yankees East of the Gulf Coast League.

Palma returned to the Tarpons on July 19 and proceeded to slash .260/.313/.462 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 30 games. With the threat of Hurricane Dorian canceling the remainder of the Florida State League season, Palma joined the Thunder on Friday and worked out with the team. He was added to the roster on Sunday after the Yankees made a flurry of moves at the September 1 roster expansion.

The Venzulean-born Palma was slashing .299/.348/.459 with seven homers and 26 RBIs before the injury.

“This kid can really hit,” Osborn said. “Really good bat-to-ball skills. There’s impact, power … he’s a good outfielder with a good arm. Honestly, I was expecting to see him at some point before the end of the season. It didn’t happen, but we’re fortunate to have some depth. He’ll slide right in and help us. I’ve always thought highly of him.”

Palma said he feels 100 percent and his timing at the plate has returned.

“It was difficult early to get the timing in Tampa, but after 20 games I feel comfortable facing pitchers,” he said. “I just need to do what I’ve been doing. Be a good teammate and play for the team to help (it) win.”

Palma won’t have much time to make an impact, but given what he’s been through, it’s quite an accomplishment to be here.

“That was a tough moment,” he said. “It was really hard, but all the stuff I’ve been doing to recover, and one year later, I’m on the field.”