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Joakim Soria. Salvador Perez. Lorenzo Cain. Danny Duffy. Blake Wood. Felipe Paulino. All had their 2012 season shortened due to injury. Add two more names to the list - Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.
The Royals two young phenoms who have struggled through the later months of this season were both shelved last week and it appears they are done for the rest of the season. Hosmer suffered a rotator cuff strain diving for a ball, while Moustakas strained his groin in Sunday's blowout. While it is possible either could return for the remaining two games manager Ned Yost indicated the it was unlikely Moose would return.
While neither player injured their elbow and are not pitchers, it is not out of the question that both will require Tommy John surgery that will cause them to miss the entire 2013 season. WE JUST DON'T KNOW. Anything is possible.
How the team responds to this devastating news will be a test to Ned Yost's leadership. While third place is already clinched, the team still has a lot to play for, including the possibility of a 73-win season and an improvement over last season's win-loss record. Jeremy Guthrie has a real chance to win his eighth game of the year. Lorenzo Cain has a shot at joining the vaunted "10/10" club (ten home runs and ten stolen bases in a season). Billy Butler is only seven home runs short of tying the franchise record for home runs in a season. Can they still reach these milestones without Eric Hosmer flailing away in the lineup? We shall see.