Shocking: "He pitched with a broken shin bone" — U.S. national team pitcher's stunning 'fracture heroics' revealed late

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

There is a pitcher who took the mound in the postseason without even knowing his shin bone was broken. The shocking fracture heroics of Garrett Wittrock (30, Boston Red Sox), a top-tier right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who also represented the U.S. national team at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held last March, have been revealed late.

U.S. outlet "USA Today" reported on the 11th (Korean time), citing local Boston media "The Boston Herald," that "Wittrock played through a right shin bone (tibia) fracture in the second half of the 2026 season."

According to the report, Wittrock forced himself to pitch despite severe leg pain in the latter part of the season. As the team's race for a postseason berth intensified, he exhausted all efforts to hold the mound by managing his pain alongside the club's medical staff.

The true nature of the injury was revealed immediately after the team's elimination. Boston ended its season with a sweep loss in the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees, falling in two straight games. Subsequent detailed examinations confirmed it was not merely pain but a shin bone fracture. He had pitched all the way to the postseason stage with a broken bone.

In fact, Wittrock's dedication this season was dazzling. Having been selected for the 2026 WBC U.S. national team ahead of the season, he appeared in four games at this year's WBC, recording an ERA of 2.70, a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.90, one save, and five strikeouts over 3⅓ innings, guarding the back end for the Gi Rok-ha-myeo (CEO) team.

In the regular season as well, he threw 52⅓ innings, posting an ERA of 1.72 and striking out 59 batters, serving as a key pillar of the Boston bullpen. Although he wavered in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Yankees, allowing three hits and three runs over 1⅓ innings and failing to prevent the team's 2-9 defeat, the revelation that his bone was broken has sent shockwaves locally. As he was named a candidate for the "2026 Roberto Clemente Award" selected by the Boston club this season for his outstanding fan service and community contributions, his dedication both on and off the mound is being highlighted even more.

Fortunately, surgery was avoided. Wittrock plans to focus on recovery by wearing a protective cast boot for six weeks instead of undergoing surgery. If the variable of a lockout due to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on December 1 is resolved, he is expected to join next season's spring training in full health.

Meanwhile, the Boston club holds a team option worth $8.25 million (approximately 11.1 billion won) for Wittrock for the 2027 season. Boston must make a final decision on whether to exercise the option within five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Attention is turning to what choice Boston will make regarding this "iron arm" who threw his body into the fray for the postseason despite suffering a bone fracture.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original