The thing that hurt more than a ball to the back was the immediate feeling of failure that loomed over Christian once it happened. He wasn't really sure how it happened, but to avoid getting drilled in the side, he turned his whole body at the plate and ended up getting a 95 mph fastball to the spine. As if the back problems weren't already a stressor, this just added to the mountain of problems.
He made his way back into the clubhouse, really trying to avoid anyone. He waited until media left so he wouldn't be bombarded about what happened; He would let his coach do the explaining. The clubhouse was awfully quiet, seeing as he was one of the last ones in there. Christian tossed his things in his locker, getting changed back into his street clothes before making his way out to his car. It took a hot second with the back pain flaring up with every step he took, but there wasn't really anything he could do.
***
Christian walked in the door of his place and saw Nevaeh's face and mood instantly changed. He knew she was worried sick, he had a number of unread messages and a couple missed calls from her. It was his way of deflection; He hated talking about himself and he hated discussing injuries.
"C'mere, go lay on your stomach in bed and I'll get you a heating pack.." Nevaeh told him, approaching her boyfriend with concern. She hated seeing him like this.
"I'm fine, really..." Christian lies. His back felt like it was on fire, pain shooting up and down his body. But the last thing he wanted was to feel like a disappointment.
He already did. He let his team down, his fans down, everyone around him, he felt he let down. An injury like this required at least a 10-day trip to the list, and he couldn't afford that right now.
"Babe, seriously. I know you're in a lot of pain right now, just please let me help you.." Nevaeh pleaded with him. Seeing him in pain like this made her feel helpless. She just wanted to make sure he was okay.
Christian sighed, agreeing to his girlfriend's request. He made his way down the hall into their bedroom where he struggled to even get comfortable on his stomach. There wasn't really a comfy way to lay when your spine feels like it's broken in a million places.
She walked in moments later with a heating pack, plugging it into the outlet near his side of the bed. "Where does it hurt the worst?" She asks quietly, running her fingers down his back gently.
"In the middle.." He speaks up. "Like.." Christian moved his arm, trying to point to where he felt the most pain. "There.." He says, wincing at the excruciating pain.
Nevaeh nodded, placing the heating pack where he told her to. "You probably don't want to talk right now, but I am just gonna say I am sorry you feel like this..." She says, frowning and sitting by his feet. "Do you need anything else?"
He shook his head, turning his head to the side and closed his eyes. "Just want some rest.."
"Okay. I'll let you rest. I'll be in the living room if you need me.." Nevaeh tells him before kissing his head and walked out into the living room again, letting her boyfriend rest.
***
"There's definitely some inflammation in that area. Got a nice bruise there too." The doctor tells Christian as he sits on the bench in the examination room. "I am going to go ahead and recommend at least 10 days off. We can go from there, but you shouldn't be lifting anything over 25 pounds, no rigorous activity. Not until I see you again in 10 days." The doctor says and Christian just hangs his head low. This is the worst outcome he expected.
Christian nodded. "Will I have to do any PT?" He asks, worried about the status for the rest of the season.
"Like I said, we'll revisit in ten days, see how the inflammation looks and see how your body is handling everything." The doctor says. "I don't want you rushing into anything. I know you baseball players like to get back into the swing of things pretty quickly, no pun intended." He said with a chuckle. "But for now, you're on a strict no physical activity schedule. I'll give you a list of some stretches you can try, but no playing baseball. Only observing from the dugout."
He sighed, just in disbelief he would have to miss playing time. Christian loved being on the field, and just sitting in the dugout watching? Not ideal.
Christian grabbed the doctors note and walked out of the room, heading into the clubhouse.
"What did they say?" Woody asks him as he sees Christian walk in, head looking down.
"At least 10 days. No physical activity or heavy lifting. I have to go back in 10 days and get re-examined before even being cleared to play." Christian explains. "Guess the dugout is my new home for the next couple of games."
"That blows, man. I am sorry." Brandon says after hearing the upsetting news. "Hopefully it's a speedy recovery."
Christian nodded, grabbing his phone from his locker to let Nevaeh know what was going on.
Hey you. Just got done with doctor. 10 days at least.
N: Stop omg.
N: i am so sorry, babe.
N: what else did they say?
C: no physical activity. no heavy lifting. Basically sit on my ass and do nothing.
He shook his head as he hit send. He hated doing nothing. This was a way for him to continually be active and not bored out of his mind. Sitting in the dugout for the whole game was not his idea of fun. Sure, he'll get to cheer on his teammates, but he wanted to be out there with them, celebrating wins on the field, not just in the clubhouse after the fact.
He glanced down at his phone, seeing his girlfriend had replied to his texts.
N: I mean, at least the team will have a new dugout assistant ❤️
Christian Yelich. Milwaukee Brewers Dugout Assistant. Let's go with that title.
(a/n: sorry for the delay in update! I've been working on other pieces but i think I'm gonna put a lot of focus towards this one!!)
