Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. will miss the 2019 season after tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee while stepping awkwardly on home plate Monday night.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed the extent of the injuries Tuesday: torn ACL, torn LCL, a partially torn PCL and a posterior lateral capsule tear. He will require major surgery and rehabilitation.
Souza, who turns 30 next month, was injured in the fourth inning of Monday’s exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field in Phoenix. His foot appeared to slip on the plate on a non-contact play and he fell to the ground in pain, clutching his left knee.
Souza played in 72 games in his first season with Arizona in 2018, missing much of the season due to pectoral strains. He batted .220 with five homers and 29 RBIs.
He is a career .233 hitter with 70 homers and 198 RBIs in five seasons with the Washington Nationals (2014), Tampa Bay Rays (2015-17) and Diamondbacks.
In 19 games this spring, he batted .213 with two homers and five RBIs.
In light of Souza’s devastating injury, Lovullo said he will “strongly encourage” his players to wear metal spikes instead of plastic cleats.
“I definitely don’t want to see that happen again to anybody,” Lovullo told reporters Tuesday. “That was an awful scene.”