Adam Eaton Breaks Hand, Out For Season

It's broken..nothing we can do but cheer on the @dbacks for the rest of the season!! Let's sweep these cubs tomorrow...

— Adam Eaton (@AdamSpankyEaton) September 30, 2012

Adam Eaton's season is over. Our sparkplug lead-off guy and center-fielder, had his right hand broken in the seventh inning, by a pitch from Cubs reliever Jeff Beliveau on Saturday night. He initially stayed in the game, but was removed for the ninth as the limb swelled up. X-rays after the contest showed the fracture, and with only four left to play, it's obviously the end of the year for Eaton.

Adam finishes the year with a .259 average, but a very strong .382 on-base percentage, thanks largely to a K:BB ratio of 15:14. He had played every game since coming up from the minors on September 4, starting in all but one in what was widely seen as an audition for a full-time role with the Diamondbacks in 2013. He was also named the Rookie of the Year and the MVP in the Pacific Coast League, where Eaton hit .381 with a .456 on-base percentage.

Recovery is estimated to be six to eight weeks, for what it's worth - hopefully, he'll be all better for spring. I say that, because it seems we've seen with Justin Upton how hand issues have the potential to linger on, far longer than initially appears the case. Everyone at the SnakePit wishes Spanky the best, and look forward to seeing him whizzing around the basepaths at top speed, come next March at Salt River Fields.