Sunday’s MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park featured a scary moment in the bottom of the third inning.
With the Rays leading 6-2, the Mariners’ Teoscar Hernández hit a groundball to the left side of the infield, and Tampa Bay third baseman Isaac Paredes and Seattle baserunner Ty France collided as Paredes tried to field the ball on the edge of the infield grass. They each rolled on the ground in pain, with Paredes seemingly getting the worst of it and staying down for roughly a minute.
Paredes was able to walk off the field, but was removed from the game.
Brutal collision in Seattle.
The Rays' Isaac Paredes and the Mariners' Ty France collide on a groundball to third base.
Each player was down on the ground for a while before walking off. Paredes exited the game. pic.twitter.com/MIN6XqTK82
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 2, 2023
Additionally, France was awarded third base on the play (which was ruled a single for Hernández), and he came around to score on a Jarred Kelenic double. Seattle scored four runs in the inning to trim Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-5.
The Rays later announced that Paredes was removed due to “left side rib discomfort.”
#Rays say Paredes was removed from game due to "left side rib discomfort"
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 2, 2023
Tampa Bay has been the best team in the American League this season, entering play on Sunday with a record of 57-29. Paredes has been a big part of that success, with a .267/.372/.494 slash line and a 148 wRC+, while being worth 2.5 wins above replacement this season according to FanGraphs. He hit his 14th homer of the season earlier in the second inning of Sunday’s game.
Isaac must think there weren't enough dents coming for the walls around here in a week or so. pic.twitter.com/3LJiXoGJCn
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 2, 2023
Hopefully it’s not a serious injury and Paredes can return to the field soon.