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Tyler O’Neill leaves Red Sox game after scary collision with Rafael Devers
Tyler O'Neill did not return in the bottom of the seventh inning after running into Devers.
A 2024 Red Sox season already marred by several key injuries was almost dealt a devastating blow on Monday afternoon.
Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neill — two of the Red Sox’ top hitters on the roster — were both attended to by trainers during Monday’s game against the Guardians after a scary collision in left field.
The collision occurred with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert managed to get Estevan Florial to pop out to shallow left field — but a convergence between Devers, O’Neill, and shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela quickly led to disaster.
With Devers backpedaling in left and calling for the ball, Rafaela backed off from the sinking ball. But O’Neill — rushing in from deep left — did not slow down and attempted to catch the ball as Devers leaned back.
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O’Neill’s face collided right into Devers’ back, spinning the left fielder as both players dropped to the outfield grass.
“As any ball player on the field, I think that’s the worst play in baseball,” Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford said. “You got the infielder running back on a blooper and you got the outfielder running in hard on the blooper. It’s tough to watch.
“You don’t want to see two of your teammates collide like that and lay on the ground. So it was tough to watch. Just one of the worst plays that can happen in baseball.”
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Alex Cora and several trainers quickly made their way out from the dugout, with O’Neill given a towel to help stop the bleeding from a cut on his forehead.
Devers appeared shaken up on the play, holding his hand up to his head before eventually getting to his feet. Devers somehow made the catch and held onto the ball despite running into O’Neill, with both players eventually making their way to the dugout.
While Devers remained in the game at third base, O’Neill did not return to play — with Jarren Duran slotting over in left field.
After Boston’s 6-0 loss to the Guardians, Cora offered an update on O’Neill.
“He got stitches, eight of them,” Cora said of O’Neill. “So we’ll see what happens next. He’s going through concussion protocol. Hopefully everything’s fine. Raffy, same deal. He says he feels good. So we’ll wait and see. He’ll go through the same thing.”
Any extended absence for O’Neill would be devastating to a Red Sox lineup that has relied on him heavily out of the gate. The 28-year-old outfielder is tied with Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna for the most home runs in MLB with seven on the year.
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