The injury report in March of 2049 was innocuous enough, listing those flu-like symptoms as a day-to-day injury for three days. And although Isekenmeir played in 135 games that season, those symptoms never really went away as he finished with a listless .668 OPS in his age 29 season. Such a surprising result in what should still be a near-peak season for a corner infielder was just the beginning. As the muscle aches, fatigue, and mental fog continued to mount, team doctors suspected an undiagnosed concussion. But the tests came back clear as day: it was COVID.
Since 2020, the disease had become endemic in modern society, with yearly vaccinations becoming as normal as a flu shot. Even so, many thousands still die of the flu every year, mostly elderly. And COVID still takes its toll as well, still affecting lives seemingly in the background. One of the ways that this disease affects people is a still-mysterious condition known as Long COVID, where symptoms persist long after initial recovery from infection. As it turns out, Isekenmeir has been dealing with these symptoms ever since 2049, even to this very day.
After that 2049 season, the third baseman's Team Option was not picked up. The following spring, Charlotte signed him to a minor league deal and he played decently at AAA Richmond, though only appearing in 91 games as the aches and fatigue continued to come and go. A few games at the big club that September didn't improve his condition, and he was out of baseball for the entire 2051 season.
The Talons brought him back to the Toledo Liberty in 2052, where he helped them to a Pegler League Championship. Then in August, with his symptoms in remission, Isekenmeir recorded a .970 OPS in 40 games as he helped the Talons down the stretch. But the following year was another struggle, this time in the GBC with Athens. Another GBC campaign for Tokyo in 2054 was similarly nondescript, and he was released. The Talons, by then aware of his condition, signed Pankratz to minor league deals in late 2054 and 2055, mainly so he would continue to have health care coverage while he battled his disease, struggling with muscle soreness and fatigue every single game. One final curtain call in 2056 with the big club was mostly ceremonial, and he retired at the end of the season.
Now, as he is reportedly in consideration for a coaching job in the Phoenix minor league system, the Talons are proud to announce their 2057 inductee into the Denny's Talons Hall Of low Standards Presented By Subaru. He will be honored at the Talons final home game on Sept. 29th.
Go Talons!
