There are three words that you absolutely never want to hear or read together in the same sentence or paragraph: 1) injury, 2) Dr. Neal ElAttrache and 3) MRI – and I mean absolutely no disrespect whatsoever to the great Dr. ElAttrache. Yet these three words have recently been used together (again) regarding Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez, and this time they could spell disaster.

“Ramirez got a cortisone shot to [1] combat inflammation in the shoulder. Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that Ramirez has not received a cortisone shot this week but would [2] see Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday for consultation and testing, which could include [3] an MRI examination.” – Bill Shaikin – LA Times

There they are – all three of them.

Ramirez first injured his right shoulder on August 4, 2013 when he tumbled into the stands at Wrigley Field after making a running catch of a pop foul. Although Ramirez did not land on the disabled list for what was called “a jammed right shoulder,” he was limited to just one pinch-hit appearance over the next nine games and has had reoccurring issues with his right shoulder ever since.

Ramirez initially injured his right shoulder on this dive into the stands at Wrigley Field on August 4, 2013.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

On June 11 Ramirez received a cortisone injection in his right AC joint while the team was in Cincinnati playing the Reds. After sitting out the next day’s game he played in every game since – until this past Monday in Kansas City when he felt discomfort in his right shoulder after swinging at a pitch. He was eventually removed from the game and hasn’t played since.

Ironically, Ramirez suffered a similar injury to his left shoulder on August 2, 2011 (while with the Florida Marlins) diving for a fly ball at Citi Field in New York. He began a rehab assignment three weeks later at Class-A Jupiter but re-injured the shoulder on August 30 while swinging a bat in the on-deck circle. The shoulder reportedly popped out of joint again causing Ramirez considerable pain. Although an MRI the next day revealed no structural damage, the decision was made to “correct instability” in the shoulder. Ramirez previously had surgery on that same shoulder back in 2007.

No one will argue that having Hanley’s bat out of the line-up for any extended period of time would be a serious blow to the Dodgers, but his primary replacement, Miguel Rojas, is a far better defender. And while Rojas has been used to occasionally spell Justin Turner at third base (who is spelling Juan Uribe) and Dee Gordon at second base, he is a true shortstop. Rojas, as you may recall, made a remarkable play at third base that saved Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter on June 18. He also made several other dazzling plays while at short and at second base. Additionally, Rojas has had several key hits since his June 6 call-up – none bigger than his bases-clearing double in the Kershaw no-hitter game.

Although there has been no official word from the Dodgers yet on Hanley’s: 1) ailing right shoulder, his 2) visit with Dr. ElAttrache or his 3) MRI, one has to believe that the news may not be good.

Stay tuned…