Nationals’ Ruiz on IL after head injury from foul ball

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    SAN DIEGO — Catcher Keibert Ruiz of the Washington Nationals has been sidelined, slipping onto the 10-day injured list following a head injury. This incident occurred on Monday when he was struck by a foul ball hit by teammate Josh Bell while Ruiz was in the team’s dugout.

    The Nationals reported that Ruiz is nursing a head bruise post-impact. As a result, the team called up Drew Millas from Triple-A Rochester to fill in. Millas has shown promise at the lower level, achieving a .247 batting average, with four homers and driving in 25 runs over his participation in 52 games.

    The impact on Ruiz came after the ball bounced off the ground, leading him to clench his head in pain before promptly leaving the dugout. Riley Adams stepped up to take Ruiz’s place in the lineup. Ruiz underwent a CT scan following the Nationals’ 10-6 triumph.

    During the fourth inning, Bell managed to drive in a run with a sacrifice fly, contributing to a fruitful four-run surge for the team.

    Ruiz’s incident follows closely on the heels of a similar situation with another player just days prior. On Thursday evening, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge experienced a close call when Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles sharply hit a ball into the Rays’ dugout, striking him in the face.

    The situation was brief but alarming, as Bigge was swiftly immobilized and escorted by ambulance for further medical evaluation. Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that Bigge remained conscious throughout the ordeal and maintained communication with the emergency crew.

    Both cases raise concerns about player safety regarding foul balls landing in the dugouts, spotlighting the unpredictable nature of these areas during games.