The Saddest Thing Happened in Final Cubs Game of 2024
No, it wasn’t losing 3-0 to the Reds or watching the offense go 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, the saddest thing that happened in the final Cubs game of 2024 was beloved pitcher Keegan Thompson suffering what looks like a bad injury. So close to ending the year and all of a sudden Thompson’s season was over with him walking out of Wrigley Field on crutches.
Thompson came into Sunday’s game with two outs and a runner on first base in the eighth inning. He walked Tyler Stephenson and then on a 1-2 pitch to Spencer Steer the Cubs reliever felt something wrong in his right foot. Cubs manager Craig Counsell came out along with the head athletic trainer and moments later Thompson had to be helped off the field as he couldn’t put much weight on his injured foot.
And with that a bittersweet season was officially over for Thompson.
Following the game, Thompson was seen leaving the park on crutches with his right foot in a walking boot.
The right-hander began the 2024 season at Triple-A, but was called up a couple weeks into the year and gave the bullpen a much-needed spark. Thompson ended the month of April with five scoreless appearances, which may not seem special but four of those outings were multiple-inning efforts in a time when the Cubs just needed anyone to get outs from the bullpen.
Thompson had a few rough outings in May and was then sidelined because of a viral illness. He was back with the Cubs in mid-June and after four more scoreless appearances the pitcher went back on the injured list because of a rib fracture. The 29-year-old returned in August and finished the year with a 1.46 ERA in his final 12.1 innings.
Overall in 2024, Thompson recorded a 2.67 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 30.1 innings. It appeared as though Thompson had re-established himself as a trusted reliever and now we’re crossing our fingers that he doesn’t have a serious foot injury.
Final day of the season. Awful luck, man.