San Francisco Giants Ace Madison Bumgarner to Miss Months After Dirt Bike Mishap

It’s less than a month into the new baseball season and the San Francisco Giants have already suffered a devastating loss that may adversely impact their playoff hopes.

There has been no better model of pitching excellence, consistency, and durability for the National League club than pitcher Madison Bumgarner. The dominating left-hander who can also swing a potent bat has led the baseball Giants to three World Series titles during his tenure with the team.

Now adding to San Francisco’s early season woes is Bumgarner’s trip to the disabled list where he is expected to spend a minimum of two months with various injuries suffered during an off the field mishap.

The ill-fated pitcher was taking advantage of an off day during an away series against the Colorado Rockies when he was involved in a crack up on a dirt bike in which he suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder. Getting hurt on the playing field is an occupational hazard but it’s got to be frustrating to teammates and fans that Bumgarner wouldn’t be more discretionary in his leisure activities during the season.

According to ESPN “Source: Some Giants fear Madison Bumgarner could miss 2-plus months”:

San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career after suffering injuries to his ribs and throwing shoulder in a dirt bike accident, the team announced Friday.

Bumgarner, who has led the Giants to three World Series titles, suffered bruised ribs and a Grade 1 or 2 sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder in the accident, which happened during the team’s off day in Denver on Thursday.

The Giants have no set timetable for Bumgarner’s return, saying only that he’s out of the hospital, resting at the team hotel and will be re-evaluated next week. San Francisco is in Denver for a series against the Rockies.

However, a source told ESPN’s Buster Olney that while the Giants will get more info on Bumgarner in the days ahead, there is concern within the organization that the injury will sideline him longer than two months.

The loss of Bumgarner for an extended period of time could potentially be a season killer for the Giants.

Experts have picked the team’s arch-enemy – the Los Angeles Dodgers – to win the AL West and with the National League packed with potential playoff contenders, San Fran could find itself in too deep of a hole to climb out of when Bumgarner comes back.

If he comes back.