Padres outfielder Profar collapses after collision
In a worrisome incident, San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar collapsed, appeared to lose consciousness after colliding with shortstop CJ Abrams
For the second time in two weeks, a left fielder and a short stop collide while going for a fly ball. In the first instance, concerning the Houston Astros, both players were taken off the field as a precaution. Now, the San Diego Padres would seem to have an altogether more serious scene on their hands.
In a tight contest between the Padres and the San Francisco Giants, Tommy La Stella popped one into shallow left field. As Profar charged the ball, shortstop CJ Abrams came running out from behind second base and the two collided. It was almost a carbon copy of the play last week when the Astros José Peña, also playing the shift, carried a full head of steam into left field and crashed into Yordan Álvarez.
The major difference was in the outcome. In last week’s incident, both players were on their feet and collided pretty much chest-to-chest. Last night, Profar was stretching out to make a diving play on the ball when Abrams’ knee caught him full-square on the jaw. Profar’s head snapped back and the scene looked horrific.
After trying to walk off the field twice, Profar then collapsed just behind the infield dirt and appeared to lose consciousness before medical staff called for the cart and a neck brace.
He was taken off to UC San Diego Health for evaluation, but Padres manager Bob Melvin remains positive that the outcome will be good. “No tingle or anything in the arms, but what we’re worried the most is probably a concussion at this point, but they’re checking everything out.”
Profar himself seemed to be in good spirits while on the stretcher, nodding his head and answering questions from the medical staff. As he was carted off the field, he defiantly raised a fist to show the crowd that he was ok, an act which received uproarious applause all around the stadium.
Melvin continued, “Any time you put somebody on a stretcher like that it’s an awful feeling. But looking at him, the way he is trying to make everybody feel OK about it with a smile on his face, makes you feel a little bit better.’’
After a long pause, play resumed with Abrams remaining in the lineup, and the contest remained tight, with the Padres getting the 2-1 victory in 10 innings.