Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez was forced to sit out Tuesday’s game against the Nationals due to a minor ankle injury.
While injuries are common in sports, this particular incident is notable because it stemmed from a pair of cleats Martinez had to order from Amazon due to logistical issues.
One of the perks of being a professional athlete is access to top-of-the-line equipment and apparel, with teams typically employing staff dedicated to ensuring players have everything they need.
However, even well-organized operations can sometimes face unexpected hurdles. It’s unclear exactly why the New York Mets’ equipment managers were unable to provide Martinez with a new pair of cleats, but there must have been a valid reason.
According to Newsday, Martinez typically wears his preferred model of Adidas cleats for three or four games before switching them out for a new pair. Recently, he encountered a problem when his latest shipment of cleats was delayed due to a production issue. In response, Martinez turned to Amazon to quickly order a replacement pair.
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Unfortunately, the cleats he received from Amazon had an extra spike, which Martinez believes caused additional pressure on his ankle, leading to the injury that kept him out of Tuesday night’s lineup. He explained during a postgame interview that he felt fine during Monday’s game against the Nationals but woke up with soreness that worsened after taking a few swings in the batting cage.
“If any MLB team was going to lose a player to injury because they had to order cleats off Amazon, it was going to be the Mets,” one fan humorously remarked, reflecting the frustration and bemusement of many.
While the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, the situation highlights the sometimes unpredictable nature of professional sports. Martinez is expected to make a quick recovery, and hopefully, he won’t need to rely on online retailers for his gear in the future.
Here’s to a swift return to the lineup for J.D. Martinez and a reminder of the importance of reliable equipment logistics in professional sports.
