Amidst a scorching heatwave sweeping across the United States, Major League Baseball players are battling more than just their opponents. Several players and even an umpire have fallen ill due to the extreme temperatures, highlighting the challenging conditions athletes are facing.
Elly De La Cruz's Incredible Comeback
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a particularly dramatic experience during Saturday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Playing under an excessive heat warning, De La Cruz vomited on the field in the fourth inning. The game was briefly halted as trainers attended to him. Despite feeling unwell, De La Cruz signaled to manager Terry Francona that he wanted to continue playing.
Francona recounted, “He drank a bunch of water — I mean a bunch — and then he went right out and got rid of it.”
In an impressive display of resilience, De La Cruz not only stayed in the game but also delivered a clutch performance. In the seventh inning, with the score tied, he blasted a 435-foot home run to left-center field, giving the Reds the lead. This remarkable feat occurred after the Cardinals decided to keep left-hander Steven Matz in to pitch against the switch-hitting De La Cruz.
Trent Thornton's Heat Exhaustion
Similarly, Seattle Mariners reliever Trent Thornton experienced heat-related issues during their game against the Chicago Cubs. Thornton pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings but had to be helped off the field in the eighth inning due to heat exhaustion. He was later treated with an ice bath. The gametime temperature for Reds at Cardinals was 92F (33C), and it was 94F (34C) for the first pitch of the Mariners’ loss to the Cubs.
“It was a scary moment, for sure,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson. “He battled hard. But just really glad that he’s feeling a little bit better now and should be OK.”
Umpire Falls Ill
The heat also affected the umpires. Chad Whitson, an umpire in the Seattle-Chicago game, fell ill and received treatment in the Mariners’ dugout. Wilson noted, “He came in, same kind of thing. Just was not feeling well. Threw up a few times in the dugout and then they came and took care of him from there. The heat was a real thing today, for sure.”
These incidents highlight the extreme conditions MLB players and officials are facing as a result of the ongoing heatwave. While De La Cruz's heroic home run provides a memorable moment, the health and safety of all involved remains the top priority.