Yordan Álvarez and Jeremy Peña injured on collision in left field
Houston Astros cornerstone players Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Peña were injured on a collision while fielding a fly ball to shallow left field
The Astros are one of the best teams in baseball, sporting one of the best batting lineups in the game, and a large part of that success has been Yordan Álvarez and Jeremy Peña.
In the eighth inning of a scoreless game in Citi Field, the Mets’ Dominic Smith popped the ball into short left field. Peña was shifted over behind the bag and took a bead on the ball. With Álvarez charging in from left, both players called for the ball, with Peña not hearing Álvarez and therefore unaware that the left fielder, who has priority in these situations, was calling him off.
The two players collided as Peña made the catch, but both players took blows to the head, Álvarez by the ball and glove of Peña, and Peña when his head snapped back as he hit the ground.
After several minutes passed, during which Yordan was notably motionless, and both players needing assistance to get to their feet, the Houston medical staff decided to bring out the cart to take Álvarez off the field for observation.
Peña wanted to remain in the game, but was overruled by the trainers, and he was able to make his way off the field under his own steam.
Both players will now undergo concussion tests and will likely be unavailable for tomorrow’s rescheduled Yankees game.
Chas McCormick came into the game to replace Álvarez and Mauricio Dubon took over the shortstop duties from Peña, as the Astros went on to win the game on a two-run blast in the ninth inning from Jason Castro, completing Houston’s four-game sweep of the Mets.
Yordan Álvarez is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, with a .321/.415/.667 batting line and 23 home runs, leading baseball in slugging percentage, OPS (1.081), and OPS+ (206).
Jeremy Peña has been outstanding, with doubts over the rookie’s ability to replace Carlos Correa in the middle infield quickly dispelled on the back of his .275/.329/.465 batting line with nine home runs. The last thing the Astros can afford is to lose these guys for any length of time.