DETROIT -- Just two days after he was involved in a car accident following the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Mets, shortstop Masyn Winn was grateful to have already put the frightening ordeal behind him.
Winn, who said the worst he felt was mild soreness following the one-car accident on Interstate 64, was back in the lineup and hitting leadoff for Friday's series opening against the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Shortly after Winn hit the game-winning 11th-inning single on Wednesday against New York, he was traveling home when he lost control of his vehicle on the wet pavement. According to Winn, he hydroplaned and hit both sides of the barrier. Luckily, because the accident occurred near the players' parking lot at Busch Stadium, his teammates weren't far away.
"As soon as I started to get over in the other lane, I just lost control of my back wheels," Winn said. "Thankfully, [Dustin May] was in front of me, and [Nolan Gorman] was right behind me. He called security, so they were on it pretty quick. ...
"It was just wild. I've never been a part of it. Felt like I was in a go-kart. I just lost control and started spinning."
Once emergency personnel arrived on scene, Gorman transported Winn to the emergency room, where he was given the all-clear following an evaluation that included X-rays.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said manager Oliver Marmol, who was on his way home from the park and turned around to meet Winn at the hospital. “... [He] went in [during Thursday’s off-day], kind of swung, played catch, did everything to make sure that he felt good, and all reports came back feeling really good.”
Winn said that he was more sore afterward due to the 11 innings he’d just played than he was from any residual effects from the wreck. The 24-year-old was flying high after providing the final blow against the Mets, and though his night ended with quite a scare, he was quickly able to put things into perspective.
“That's what I was telling Gorm. I was like, 'Dude, this was supposed to be such a good day.' And then, you know, that happens,” Winn said. “It was very unfortunate, but at first, I thought I broke my thumb, and that's what I was more upset about. I was like, 'Man, I'm gonna have to miss like, three or four weeks.' And then we find out everything's all good.
“It's just a car. I can get that back. I'm glad. I'm OK.”