The Strangest and Most Bizarre Injuries in MLB History
Baseball may be a game of skill, but its injury stories often read like comedy scripts gone wrong. Strange mishaps, baffling accidents, and downright unbelievable moments have sidelined players in ways that defy logic on and off the field. These injuries are the oddities that make MLB lore unforgettable.
2025: Jose Miranda, Twins
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On April 14, a routine task turned awkward when a case of water began slipping from the third baseman’s grasp. In an effort to keep it from hitting the ground, he strained his left hand. The mishap capped a rough week that included a baserunning error and a demotion to Triple-A.
2025: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
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Fresh off ankle surgery after a heroic postseason, the nine-time All-Star had an unglamorous setback. Before a Braves series, an at-home shower incident left his surgically repaired right ankle swollen. The timing forced him out of the opener.
2023: Rowdy Tellez, Brewers
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The first baseman added a bizarre injury to his season on July 16, even after he was already sidelined with right forearm inflammation. While shagging a fly ball near the outfield wall, his left ring finger got wedged between padded sections. The nail bed tore off, a small fracture followed, and 17 stitches finished the day.
2023: Anthony DeSclafani, Giants
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A piano bench scenario weeks earlier came back to haunt the veteran pitcher during a May 13 start. He had dropped it squarely on his left big toe while playing with his son. The toenail worsened mid-game against Arizona and forced him off the mound in visible discomfort.
2022: Lance McCullers Jr., Astros
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Celebrating an ALDS win turned painful when a champagne bottle struck Lance’s elbow. The cut caused swelling that delayed his ALCS start by a game. Though not serious, the accident proved that even playoff champagne requires handling skills, and he returned in Game 4 against the Yankees without further setback.
2022: David Robertson, Phillies
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The veteran reliever’s postseason hopes hit a snag when an NL Wild Card Series celebration got a little too lively. While jumping after a Bryce Harper home run, he strained his right calf. The injury kept him off the NLDS roster.
2022: James Kaprielian, A’s
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Hours before a scheduled September 9 start, the right-hander’s season took an odd turn. While putting on a shirt the night before, his hand hit a wall and he sliced his right middle finger. The cut forced him out of the rotation that day, with Austin Pruitt taking the mound instead.
2022: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
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A new calf tattoo featuring his sister’s portrait led Chapman to an unexpected health scare. He developed a leg infection while spiking a fever, and landed on the injured list in late August. Doctors confirmed the situation, and the Yankees called up Anthony Banda to fill his roster spot.
2022: Chris Sale, Red Sox
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Sale was recovering from a fractured left pinkie when his summer worsened after a bicycle crash fractured his right wrist. The August accident required surgery and extended his IL stay. It added another chapter to a string of injuries that had sidelined him for much of the previous three seasons.
2022: Archie Bradley, Angels
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An on-field brawl with the Mariners in June spiraled into personal injury when the reliever tumbled over the dugout railing. The fall fractured his right elbow’s radial head and sidelined him for weeks. Doctors emphasized rest and regaining range of motion before any throwing could resume.
2022: Max Scherzer, Mets
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Max, the eight-time All-Star, was bitten on his pitching hand by his dog, Rafi, while recovering from an oblique strain. The bite happened as he tried to comfort the injured pet. It was mild, so he kept throwing the next day and said it wouldn’t delay his return from the original injury.
2022: Jonathan Villar, Cubs
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A workout-room accident on May 30 sent Jonathan to the injured list. His exercise band snapped back into his mouth and caused dental damage that required significant work. The freak incident was unrelated to baseball activities but kept the infielder sidelined for over a week in the middle of the season.
2021: J.D. Martinez, Red Sox
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While jogging to right field between innings in the regular-season finale, Martinez stepped awkwardly on second base. The resulting left ankle sprain excluded him from the American League Wild Card Game. Boston advanced without him, but the incident showed injuries can happen in even the most routine moments.
2021: Devin Williams, Brewers
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A division-clinching celebration turned costly when the setup man punched a wall after a night of drinking. The right-hander fractured his pitching hand and required surgery, which ended his season before the playoffs. Williams apologized and took full responsibility for the self-inflicted injury that left Milwaukee’s bullpen without its top late-inning option.
2021: Zach Plesac, Cleveland
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Plesac injured his right thumb in the locker room after a rough outing in May. He was aggressively taking off his undershirt and caught his thumb on a chair, which caused a non-displaced fracture. The odd accident landed him on the injured list.