ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio and center fielder Tyler Freeman stayed down for several minutes after a hard collision on a flyball in the fifth inning at Texas on Tuesday night. Both players initially stayed in the game.
Freeman was clearly calling for the ball hit by Adolis García as he ran forward. He made the catch and held on even as Rocchio, with his back to the infield and on the run, ran directly into his teammate.
The shortstop’s glove went into the face of Freeman as they collided before falling to the ground. Rocchio immediately rolled over onto his stomach while putting his hand on his mouth.
Three athletic trainers and manager Stephen Vogt immediately ran out of the Cleveland dugout to check on the players. Teammates that were in the game also surrounded them.
Freeman came to bat in the top of the sixth, and was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Then in the bottom of that inning, he made a running, lunging catch alone in center field to take a hit away from Travis Jankowski.
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