During Monday’s game between the Red Sox and the Cleveland Guardians, left fielder Tyler O’Neill had to exit the game in the eighth inning after colliding with third baseman Rafael Devers while both were chasing a shallow popup. Devers managed to make the catch as the collision occurred, sending both players to the ground. O’Neill was holding his face and Devers was face down as the team’s athletic trainer and manager rushed to their aid.
O’Neill needed eight stitches on his forehead as a result of the collision. Boston’s manager, Alex Cora, called for a towel to help stop the bleeding as O’Neill walked off the field. Devers, on the other hand, appeared uninjured and was able to stay in the game. Cora mentioned that O’Neill was being evaluated for a possible concussion and hoped for the best in terms of his recovery.
After the collision, David Hamilton stepped in to play shortstop, with Ceddanne Rafaela moving to center field and Jarren Duran shifting to left. Even though the game ended in a 6-0 loss for the Red Sox, the team’s focus remained on O’Neill’s well-being and ensuring he received the necessary medical attention. Devers also underwent concussion protocol despite feeling fine after the incident.