SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have lost one of their most reliable arms for the season.
All-Star reliever Jason Adam was carted off the field after sustaining a serious leg injury in the top of the seventh inning on Monday night during the Padres’ 4-3 loss to the Orioles at Petco Park. He could face a recovery time of six to nine months, pending the results of an MRI on Tuesday.
His left knee buckled, and Adam collapsed to the ground. After trainers came out to check on him, Adam was helped up by his teammates and carted off the field. Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the game that Adam suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon.
Adam, who got the final out of the sixth inning, was three batters into the next inning when Gunnar Henderson hit a grounder up the middle. Adam’s delivery carried him toward the left, and he tried to move back to his right against his momentum to try to make a play on the ball.
He felt a pop. Adam, who said he felt his left quad start to roll up on him, collapsed to the ground.
“I knew it wasn’t good,” Adam said.
After trainers came out to check on him and he exited the field, Adam was told about the six- to nine-month timeline.
Though the Padres boasted baseball’s likely best and deepest bullpen, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller added to it at this year’s Trade Deadline. Flamethrower Mason Miller arrived in a blockbuster swap that sent top prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics.
While in the trainers’ room, Adam told Preller, “I’m really glad you went out and got Mason.”
Miller’s locker is right next to Adam’s in the Padres’ clubhouse. Since he arrived in San Diego, Miller has been able to lean on Adam and pick his brain. A lot of guys in the clubhouse do the same.
“He’s just a phenomenal guy,” Miller said. “On the field, off the field, anything I’ve needed, he’s been there. And just the way he connects with all his teammates -- regardless of where they come from or what type of position they play -- he just has a gift.”
A year ago, Adam was in a similar position to Miller. The Padres acquired the right-hander last season at the Trade Deadline. He has been one of their most consistent arms out of the bullpen since. A first-time All-Star this year, Adam has a 1.93 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.
“This guy, since he came last year, has been a big part of our success,” Shildt said. “Not only on the field -- which is pretty clear, including this year. Guy’s an absolute workhorse and just has gotten huge outs for us. But he’s also a real pillar of our clubhouse.”
Padres starter Dylan Cease appeared heartbroken for his teammate.
“It’s really tough,” Cease said. “It seems like he pitches every day, and he’s been amazing. It’s terrible to see.”
They’re in striking distance, and Adam knows they can make a run. Even without him.
“The recovery is what it is,” Adam said, visibly holding back tears. “You can take that day by day. But just knowing this group in here, the mental toughness they have. There’s everything in this clubhouse to win a World Series. You want to be a part of that.
“But I can still play a small part in that in just showing up every day for the boys.”
Miller welcomes it. And he’s up for the challenge.
“It’s just any guy, any situation,” Miller said. “Obviously, it sucks losing him, not only for what he does on the mound but also just the type of person he is. He’s a phenomenal teammate, and I’m sure he’s going to continue to be that.
“But in his absence, it’s going to be guys that need to step up and fill that role.”