JETHAWK REPORT : Injury Wave Claims Two More

Outfielder Shane Monahan and first baseman Shawn Buhner might be out for the season, adding to the JetHawks’ uncanny run of injuries.

Monahan broke his right wrist July 10, but continued playing until he had an X-ray Wednesday that revealed the injury.

Buhner fouled a ball off his left foot Sunday, and X-rays taken Wednesday showed it is broken.

Both are out four to six weeks, meaning they could be back just before the playoffs, though not much earlier.

Monahan comes out of the lineup with a 16-game hitting streak, during which he batted .377 with seven homers and 24 runs batted in.

“I’m heartbroken,” he said, “not so much for the way I was swinging the bat, but the team is in the thick of the race for a playoff spot. It’s going to be tough the next 40 games to sit around and watch.”

Buhner, struggling with a .223 average, agreed it was ironic that the ball that got him was one he hit well.

“If I had been doing what I’d been doing all season, missing it, I’d be all right,” he said.

Of the players currently with the JetHawks, 12 have missed games with some sort of injury. Manager Dave Brundage, who has spent 11 seasons as a minor league player or manager, said this has been an unusual year.

“I could understand it in triple A,” he said. “You have older guys and their muscles aren’t what they used to be. But these guys are young.”

Trainer Rob Nodine, who writes the status of the injured players on a board in the training room, said: “I’m going to have to write smaller.”

The JetHawks might get an outfielder to replace Monahan, but there are no available infielders to replace Buhner, Brundage said.

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Tonight’s Game:

High Desert (Hut Smith, 2-2, 3.34) at JetHawks (Ken Cloude, 11-2, 3.76), 7:15.