Brewers pitcher tears knee ligament in strangest way possible

The good news for Milwaukee Brewers reliever Will Smith is that people will now remember him for something other than sharing a name with the famous actor. And for something other than being suspended eight games last season for having a foreign substance on his arm.

Unfortunately, the bad news for baseball’s Will Smith is the new reason people will remember him is for suffering perhaps the weirdest and most unlucky injury imaginable.

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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Smith suffered a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee on Thursday. However, the injury did not occur while Smith was on the field pitching in a minor-league game. Instead, it happened afterward, in the Brewers clubhouse, while he was taking off his shoe.

“I was standing on one leg, trying to take the shoe off and I pulled hard and it stayed on,” Smith is quoted as saying. “My knee just went up and popped. It sucks.”

Yeah, that’s definitely one for the weird injury history books.

Whenever they involve simple every day tasks, such as changing clothes or preparing food, they’re automatically in. Though unfortunately for both Smith and the Brewers, this one could have some serious repercussions.

Will Smith was caught with a foreign substance on his arm during a game on May 21, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP) As Haudricourt also notes, Smith was expected to begin the season at least sharing the Brewers closing duties with Jeremy Jeffress. That means manager Craig Counsell was counting on Smith, who impressed last season in a set up role, to continue handling important innings. It was a big opportunity for Smith to continue enhancing his value. Instead, the 26-year-old left-hander figures to spend a significant amount of time on the disabled list while Jeffress gets a crack to lock down the closer’s job.

“It’s disappointing; it sucks. As a competitor you want to play,” said Smith. “Sitting out is never fun. But it’ll be all right. Everybody tells you there’s nothing you can do about it but you still feel like you’re letting people down.”

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The Brewers hope to know Saturday whether or not Smith will require surgery. That should give them a better idea for what his timetable to return will be. The injury was to Smith’s plant leg, so it will be important to ensure strength and stability in the knee before he returns.

It really is mind-boggling to think so much trouble could come from removing a shoe. But it just goes to show that even the simpliest things in life can’t be taken for granted.

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