Austin Hays' Instagram Story Shows Exactly Why You Should Never Slide Headfirst Into First Base

Last week Austin Hays of the Orioles slid headfirst into first base in an attempt to avoid a tag, he got low and attempted to slide by but spoiler alert, it didn't work. What ended up happening was exactly why coaches tell you not to slide headfirst into first. Now I'm not going to tell a Major League player how to play, he's here for a reason. He gives 145% every single play, that is just who he is. Guy hustles all the time and I love it, but I was cringing when I saw him go into the slide. You were hoping it was him just jamming a finger into the bag or the ground but that isn't what it was. He got stepped on by the pitcher, got his hand mashed on. You can see him pull his hand back immediately and cradle it. He was in pain right away and you could tell it wasn't good. You can see some blood when the trainer visits him and he was pretty upset before that. 

At first you're thinking ah it's okay, just a little blood! Not a big deal. Hays ended up coming out of the game and it was reported that he got a few stitches and then had to miss a few games to let the swelling go down. He took BP a few times to see how the hand felt and then he had to see how he could get that left hand into the glove. He came back this week and then on Thursday posted a picture of his hand after getting it stepped on. 

YIKESSSSSS. How many beers? But seriously, that cut is gnarly. Now we see why he needed those stitches and those games off. Idk how it wasn't bleeding more. It got his pinky good too, you can see the puss oozing out of those stitches. Gross, flat out gross. No wonder he couldn't stick his hand into his glove. Only missed a handful of games though, because thats the kind of player he is. I mean look at that thing, if this was a hockey player he probably gets it cut off and retires. For sure misses the season. Hays is playing on a team in the latter stages of rebuilding and was itching to get back out there. That is the difference between the NHL and MLB. 

The biggest adjustment for Hays has been now he has to wear a batting glove, something he said he hasn't done since he was 10 years old. So he used to be a no BGs guy but to protect the stitches he has to wear one of the left hand. Such a gnarly injury on a play where it could have been avoided. I love the way he plays, 100 MPH like his hair is on fire all the time, I just don't want to see this happen again cuz it's so damn gross.