Christian Arroyo's time in Augusta, Ga. was cut short by a nagging thumb injury, but now the 19-year-old shortstop finds himself in Salem, Ore. where he'll be an integral part of a Volcanoes squad comprised mostly of returnees from the 2013 season.
The Tampa, Fla. native was injured making a diving play against Hickory on May 10, and until the Volcanoes home opener on June 13, Arroyo had not played in a game since.
"I was playing second [base] and I went to go make a play in the hole and I went to slide and kind of spin and lift myself up and I hyperextended my thumb," Arroyo said.
An MRI revealed that nothing was torn, but the injury would still keep him out for at least two weeks. Before returning to normal action, Arroyo was sent to Arizona to get some work in with extended spring training.
"It's back to normal," he said of his thumb. "It doesn't bother me anymore."
Arroyo went 1-for-3 in his return to play, collecting the team's only two RBIs. However, the #5 prospect according to Baseball America has been out of the lineup the following five games after taking a ball off the same thumb during batting practice before Saturday's game. He is currently listed day-to-day.