Athletic Julio Rodríguez escapes severe damage to the lower leg following a direct hit during a game
Crippled Center-Fielder: Rodríguez's Close Call with Los Angeles Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The thrilling game of baseball was marred by Julio Rodríguez's discomfort when he was hit on the right ankle by a batted ball off teammate Randy Arozarena's bat in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels.
X-rays on Rodríguez's ankle showed no serious fractures, and the M's center fielder revealed there's a chance he could return to action for the series finale on Sunday, although he'll need some quick recovery.
The M's bitterly lost 8-6 to the Angels following this unpleasant event, and they'll be battling to avoid a sweep on Sunday.
"Although the swelling went down remarkably fast, I can't deny that it was a brutal impact," Rodríguez shared. "I was unable to feel or move my foot properly for some time."
Rodríguez was attempting to steal third base when Arozarena made contact with Jack Kochanowicz's pitch, which was anchoring left field. The ball swiftly hit Rodríguez squarely where his ankle meets his foot, leaving him vulnerable.
Rodríguez attempted to locate the ball but wasn't able to spot it until it collided with his ankle.
"In retrospect, I can't control much when it comes to the ball finding me," Rodríguez explained. "All I can control is to execute a perfect jump and reach for the base."
Injured and limping, Rodríguez shuffled to the edge of the Angels dugout before lying flat on the field for a few minutes as Mariners athletic training staff evaluated him. He eventually left the field with assistance, clearly struggling.
Leody Taveras replaced Rodríguez in center field during the bottom of the inning, but his performance was not up to the mark. Taveras first misread Zach Neto's fly ball, leading the ball to drop for a single and Neto to reach second base. Later in the inning, Taveras mishandled a leaping catch at the wall off Chris Taylor's bat, although it was ruled a double.
Despite the injury, Rodríguez had registered a single in both of his at-bats in the game and was 2 for 4 in the opener on Friday. His recent form improved significantly as his batting average clocked in at .385 over the previous seven games.
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Wounds and Recovery
- Injury Explanation: Probed by a one-hopper off Randy Arozarena's bat, Rodríguez sustained an ankle injury.
- Current Condition: Day-to-day, with the hope of recovering soon and returning to action by Sunday. Further medical assessment will determine his participation in Sunday's game against the Angels.
- Julio Rodríguez's ankle injury during a game against the Los Angeles Angels has left him day-to-day, and he is hoping to return to action for the series finale on Sunday.
- Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez was hit by a batted ball off teammate Randy Arozarena's bat in a game against the Los Angeles Angels, causing an ankle injury that could potentially keep him out of the series finale on Sunday.
- Despite being injured and limping after being hit by a batted ball, Julio Rodríguez has shown promising form at the plate, registering a single in both of his at-bats in the game against the Los Angeles Angels.
