The Washington Nationals’ pursuit of the franchise’s first World Series championship just took a major hit. Catcher Wilson Ramos will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, manager Dusty Baker announced Tuesday.
The injury confirms what many assumed after Ramos had to leave Monday night’s game with a knee injury. The catcher injured himself landing after catching a relay throw at the plate. Upon landing, Ramos immediately fell to the ground and began clutching his right knee. After suffering the non-contact injury, Ramos had to be helped off the field by team trainers.
The loss of Ramos is a devastating blow to the Nationals. The 29-year-old was in the midst of a breakout season, and had quietly been one of the best players on the Nationals. Over 523 plate appearances, Ramos hit .307/.354/.496, with 22 home runs. His 3.5 fWAR ranked as the fourth-best among catchers this season.
With Ramos now officially ruled out, the Nationals injuries are piling up. Pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been sidelined since early September due to an elbow issue. It’s unclear whether he’ll be able to return for the postseason. Second baseman Daniel Murphy has not played the past couple games due to a left buttocks injury. On top of that, outfielder Bryce Harper has been rumored to be battling a shoulder issue all season. For what it’s worth, Harper has denied reports that he’s injured, but that would explain why the reigning NL MVP has put up pedestrian numbers this season.
The injury not only comes at a terrible time for Washington, but it also comes at the worst possible time for Ramos. The 29-year-old is set to hit the free-agent market for the first time in his career this offseason. Considering the derth of talent available, and the fact that Ramos plays a premium position, there was a chance he would have been considered the top player available on the market.
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