It looks like Tyler O’Neill got the worst of it, but O’Neill and Rafael Devers ended up on the ground as the Red Sox Patriot Day game took a turn for the scary on Monday afternoon.
Estevan Florial of the Cleveland Guardians hit a pop-up in the 7th inning that sent both Devers and O’Neill racing to make the out. However, with Devers backpedaling from his third base spot and O’Neill racing in from his outfield spot while looking up, the two never saw each other, and the results were disastrous.
A more focused replay shows the head-to-face collision.
Trainers raced out to attend to the two players, and O’Neill left the game bleeding from multiple points on his face. For his part, Devers seemed very unsteady as he made his way to his feet.
Tyler O’Neill #17 of the Boston Red Sox and Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox walk off the field with trainers after colliding during the seventh inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on April 15, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
What the video doesn’t tell you is that Devers is listed at 235 pounds. That is an awful lot of force run into face first. I hope both players are alright.
The Guardians won the game, 6-0.