INDIANAPOLIS — Austin Meadows is having trouble staying on the field this season and it appears he will miss more games with an oblique issue.
Meadows missed five games that led into this week due to what was labeled as “slight oblique tightness.” And he was taken out of Indianapolis’ game on Sunday with “oblique discomfort.”
There’s no timetable for Meadows to return, though it appears this latest issue will cause him to miss more games.
“I wouldn’t say serious, but I would say we’re going to probably take a little harder look at it than we did last time,” Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett said.
Considering the first oblique issue led to Meadows missing five games, if this injury is given a “harder look,” one could assume Meadows may miss several games if not more.
Meadows started three consecutive days this week after returning from the oblique discomfort, but had Saturday off and told the coaching staff he felt fine prior to Sunday’s game.
In the first inning Meadows fouled off six pitches before striking out in a 9-pitch at-bat. In the third inning, Columbus left fielder Daniel Robertson made a diving catch to take away an extra base hit from Meadows.
“I think he might have aggravated something (in the long first-inning at-bat),” Barkett said. “(Meadows) said he felt it when he hit the ball in his last at-bat.”
Meadows declined an interview request as he left Victory Field.
“I haven’t spoken to him, but I would imagine he’s super frustrated,” Barkett said.
Meadows was hitting .461 in his four starts since returning from the original oblique issue, and he could have had two more hits if not for spectacular defensive plays that took those away.
A hamstring injury suffered in late-June cost Meadows almost two months of his season.
