Baseball's Most Bizarre Injuries

The 14-year veteran starting pitcher was let go this offseason after four seasons with the Minnesota Twins and is still in search of a job. But his current worries go beyond baseball -- "I'm just lucky to be alive," he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune`s Joe Christensen. After ramping up his workouts and free-agent negotiations with teams following the holidays, Pavano had a "freak accident" while shoveling snow at his Vermont home on Jan. 12, according to the report. The 37-year-old slipped on ice and fell onto a shovel handle, which jammed into his midsection. Four days later, he felt "sudden wave of abdominal pain and nausea" -- he had lacerated his spleen. Pavano, who became notorious in New York for spending so much time on the disabled list after signing with the Yankees, will have to wait for his incision to heal and then work for several weeks or even months to regain his strength, but is determined to pitch again.