Mariners’ Robinson Cano breaks bone in right hand

Mariners star second baseman Robinson Cano has fractured a bone in his right hand after being hit by a pitch during the third inning of Sunday’s game against the Tigers, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com.

Robinson was struck on the fifth metacarpal, the long bone in the pinkie finger, by a fastball from Blaine Hardy. The eight-time All-Star had to leave the game and had a cast put on his hand. Cano said to Johns after the game that he will travel to Philadelphia to see a hand specialist on Tuesday and he “expects he could need surgery” on the bone. It is not yet known how long Cano will be out of Seattle’s lineup.

However, losing Cano for any amount of time is not good for the Mariners.

A veteran of 14 seasons, the 35-year-old Cano has played in over 150 games in 11 straight seasons, hit over 20 homer runs in eight of his last nine campaigns and has had over 94 RBI in six of those nine years. Playing in his fifth season with the Mariners after signing a 10-year, $243 million contract back in December 2013 following his ninth season with he Yankees, he came into Sunday’s game slashing .289/.383/.444 with four homers and 23 RBI.

The Mariners are 22-17 this year and only sit two games behind the Astros for first in the NL West, even though they are third in the standings.

Until the team finds out how long Cano will be out, infielder Andrew Romine will take his spot at second. Romine replaced Cano as a pinch-runner and remained in the game at second base. Romine is the only backup infielder on the Mariners’ 25-man roster right now.