Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – San Diego Padres slugger Luis Arraez was in stable condition after being stretchered off the field and taken to hospital on Sunday after a frightening first-base collision in a game in Houston, the Major League Baseball team said.
“Luis Arraez has been transported to Houston Methodist Hospital for further evaluation,” the Padres said in a statement. “He is currently stable, conscious, responsive, and able to move his extremities.”
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Arraez had been taken from the field with his head immobilized on a stretcher after the incident on the second play of the game. The designated hitter had attempted a sacrifice bunt which was fielded on the right side of the infield by Astros first baseman Christian Walker. Houston second baseman Mauricio Dubon was running toward first to take Walker’s throw to the base and collided with Arraez. He appeared to inadvertently catch Arraez’s chin with his elbow.
The game was delayed for 11 minutes as Arraez was tended by medical staff and put on a backboard. He gave a “thumbs-up” sign as he departed.
“That was very scary,” Padres manager Mike Shildt told ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. “We don’t see those kind of collisions in our sport a whole lot.”
Arraez is in his second season with the Padres, after he was traded to San Diego by the Miami Marlins last year. He has three home runs and seven runs-batted-in so far this season. He’s the first MLB player to win three straight batting titles with three different teams — in 2022 with Minnesota, with Miami in 2023, and with the Padres last year.
© 2024 AFP
