SAN DIEGO – The Nationals are awaiting the results of a CT scan after Keibert Ruiz was hit on the right side of the head by a foul ball that ricocheted in the dugout at Petco Park on Monday night.
Ruiz was among the players and staff sitting at the visitors dugout railing in the fourth inning when Josh Bell fouled off a cutter from Stephen Kolek that sliced into the dugout at 82.4 mph. The ball hit the back wall behind Ruiz before hitting him in the head.
“The ball hit him pretty solid on the side of the head,” said manager Dave Martinez. “... First, we all ducked. When he went down, we kind of got scared a little bit. He had a nice lump on his head. A little concerned right now.”
Ruiz left the dugout with head athletic trainer Paul Lessard and underwent a CT scan off-site. Martinez said Ruiz was coherent and answering questions correctly. He was replaced by backup catcher Riley Adams.
“I love that kid,” Martinez of Ruiz, who already has made 62 starts this season. “He wants to play every day. He’s a gamer. So hopefully it’s just precautionary and he comes back and he’s good to go.”
If the Nationals need to call up another catcher, the likely selection will be Drew Millas, who is on the 40-man roster. Millas has appeared in 31 Major League games in the past two seasons. He is batting .247 with 25 RBIs for Triple-A Rochester this year.