CHICAGO — In a surprising turn of events during Monday night’s game, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez found himself leaving the field early in the first inning after sustaining an injury from a high-speed pitch. Chicago White Sox’s starter Shane Smith delivered a fastball clocked at 95.9 mph, striking Suárez on the hand.
Following the incident, the Diamondbacks communicated via social media that Suárez was diagnosed with a bruise, with X-ray results showing no fractures. Despite the physical shock, the news of no significant damage must have been a relief to Suárez and the team. In visible discomfort, Suárez immediately dropped his bat and grabbed his injured hand before being taken out of the game. Ildemaro Vargas stepped in as his replacement for defensive duties in the bottom half of the inning.
Later in the game, Diamondbacks’ first baseman Josh Naylor also had to leave due to complications with his right shoulder, an injury that appeared to be aggravated during an at-bat in the second inning. Classified as experiencing shoulder discomfort, Naylor’s status is considered day-to-day, with Tim Tawa taking over his position.
The setback for Suárez comes on the heels of being recognized as the NL player of the week, a commendation awarded after posting impressive stats, including a .440 batting average, four home runs, and 10 RBIs. His absence from the field is an unfortunate blow to the momentum he’d built.
This incident marks the second time in a short span that the Diamondbacks have had a player hit by a pitch. Corbin Carroll, the team’s star outfielder, has been sidelined since being struck on the left hand by a sinker during a game in Toronto last Wednesday. Adding to the roster challenges, catcher Gabriel Moreno is also out due to a hairline fracture in his right index finger from a wild pitch. The Diamondbacks find themselves navigating through a rough patch as they deal with these injuries to key players.