Red Sox outfielder receives eight stitches following scary collision
Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill left Monday afternoon’s game against the Guardians at Fenway Park following a scary collision with Rafael Devers in the seventh inning.
The two collided, trying to make a play on a shallow fly ball to left field that came off the bat of Estevan Florial. Devers continued to pursue the ball into the outfield, resulting in him crashing into O’Neill.
The two players remained down on the field, with O’Neill bleeding and holding a towel over his face. They both walked off on their own, and O’Neill would leave the game.
“In this game, we talk bout communication and all that, but when there’s 35,000 people in there, it’s hard,” Alex Cora said to reporters postgame. “It’s two guys trying to make plays, and they ran into each other.”
The outfielder was placed into the concussion protocol and was given eight stitches to close his gash on his head.
“He has a big gash here,” said Cora, pointing at his forehead. “He got eight stitches. He’s going through the concussion protocol. Hopefully everything’s fine.”
Devers remained in the game; David Hamilton came in to play shortstop, with Ceddanne Rafaela moving into center field and Jarren Duran to left field.
Boston is expected to learn more about O’Neill’s recovery on Tuesday. Cora doesn’t believe the Red Sox will need to place the outfielder on the injured list.
O’Neill has been one of the top hitters in baseball to begin the season; he’s hitting .313 with seven homers and a 1.209 OPS.
