In the eighth inning of Monday’s game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians, left fielder Tyler O’Neill had to leave the field after colliding with third baseman Rafael Devers while both were trying to catch a shallow popup. The collision caused both players to fall to the ground, and as O’Neill sat up, he was holding his face in pain.
The team’s athletic trainer and manager, Alex Cora, rushed onto the field to check on them. O’Neill was given a towel to hold against his face as he walked off the field, while Devers remained face down. After the game, Cora mentioned that O’Neill had a large gash on his forehead and required eight stitches. He would be going through the concussion protocol to ensure there were no further injuries. While Devers stated that he felt fine, he would also undergo the concussion protocol as a precaution.
In response to O’Neill’s exit, David Hamilton came in to play shortstop, Rafaela moved to center field, and Duran shifted from center to left field to accommodate the changes in the lineup. Despite the unfortunate collision, the Red Sox were hoping for a swift recovery for O’Neill and Devers after the incident.
