Saturday, August 19th , 2056
The Las Vegas Hustlers were dealt a severe blow when Tom Rudge was hurt running the bases recently in a game against the Edmonton Jackrabbits. After the game, the team trainer reported Rudge might have to spend a lengthy time on the injured list. Today doctors confirmed it, ruling the 37-year-old right fielder out for the rest of the season with a hamstring strain. They indicated it would take Rudge at least 2-3 months to heal.
Posting a .289 batting average to date, Rudge has 23 home runs and 59 RBIs.
"There's no replacing Tom Rudge," said Las Vegas manager Edward Allen. "Everyone will need to step their game up a little bit, and that's no cliche."
Certainly even minute improvement by everyone would help ease the loss, but someone is going to have to take on the more visible role of taking Rudge's at-bats. Chris Thomas will almost certainly get most of the appearances in right field. Left field would then be a combination of Roosevelt Davis (vs RHP) and likely Kenny Qasim (vs LHP).
