Tyler Austin could not have begun his major league career in better fashion. It’s awfully hard to top a home run in your first big league at-bat. However bad luck and lingering injuries have plagued Austin since he laced that home run over the short porch in right field back in August of 2016.
Austin entered spring training as a potential candidate for the first base job, but after Greg Bird’s torrid spring weakened Austin’s candidacy, a foul ball off his foot shattered it. Austin suffered a fracture in his left ankle and was headed to the 60-day disabled list.