Kevin Gorman: Pirates pitcher Nick Burdi’s injury was just crushing to watch

Kevin Gorman
Monday, April 22, 2019 11:38 p.m. | Monday, April 22, 2019 11:38 p.m.

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Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates reliever Nick Burdi grabs his arm after throwing a pitch during the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks Monday, April 22, 2019, at PNC Park.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates reliever Nick Burdi grabs his arm after throwing a pitch during the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks Monday, April 22, 2019, at PNC Park.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates first baseman Josh Bell comforts reliever Nick Burdi on the mound after Burdi was injured during the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks Monday, April 22, 2019, at PNC Park.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates reliever Nick Burdi is helped from the field after being injured during the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks Monday, April 22, 2019, at PNC Park.

Nick Burdi threw the pitch, doubled over in pain and dropped to a knee. When the Pittsburgh Pirates reliever clutched his right biceps in anguish, you knew it was awful.

Video of the Nick Burdi injury pic.twitter.com/GFxnDL3rO7

— zach (@zachleft) April 23, 2019

It was absolutely crushing to watch, especially when first baseman Josh Bell placed his hand on Burdi’s shoulder as the pitcher was sobbing on the mound.

Even worse is knowing the 26-year-old Burdi was back after having Tommy John surgery in May 2017, with 13 strikeouts in his first 10 innings before the 12-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at PNC Park. Burdi had allowed four hits and five runs in Arizona’s seven-run seventh, including a two-run homer to Christian Walker.

Just terrible to see Nick Burdi go down. Already had one Tommy John, was such a dominant force in college & was so excited to see him throw the ball well I Pittsburgh. Fingers crossed for him.

— Mike Ferrin (@Mike_Ferrin) April 23, 2019

AT&T SportsNet cameras panned to Chad Kuhl, who is out with Tommy John surgery, standing against a dugout railing, and he had both hands on his head.

The Pirates said Burdi was being evaluated for right elbow/biceps pain.

Nick Burdi has a 50% strikeout rate, a 99 MPH fastball, a slider that he throws 56% of the time, and now I can see why: pic.twitter.com/WX4LUtiUUP

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) April 22, 2019

“It just takes the breath right out of you,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s sports. You love to compete. You love to watch young men play. That’s the hard part of it. When something like that happens, man, it gives you something to contemplate. Man, a fine line between competing one pitch, and then the next pitch you’re down. I haven’t experienced that before, with a guy on the mound or in a game or that type of reaction that came after a pitch.”

I was going to sleep but that Nick Burdi injury is going to haunt my dreams. Good luck to the kid.

— Paul Schmidt (@LTJpezcore1) April 23, 2019

Here’s hoping Burdi’s injury isn’t as serious as it appeared — and we never have to see something like that again.

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