Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez left Saturday night’s 8-6 loss to the host Los Angeles Angels in the third inning after getting hit in the right ankle area by a 98.1 mph liner by teammate Randy Arozarena while attempting to steal third base.
Rodriguez got X-rays at Angel Stadium on his ankle which came back negative, according to reports after the game, with the outfielder listed as day to day, manager Dan Wilson said.
“There’s a high chance that I should be in the lineup,” Rodriguez told reporters. “So just seeing how it reacts through the night and like how I wake up tomorrow. But I feel very positive that tomorrow will be a better day.”
A two-time All-Star, Rodriguez had singled to lead off the inning and stole second base in the game in Anaheim, Calif. After Cal Raleigh struck out, Arozarena hit an infield single that struck Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who was 2-for-2 with one run, had to be helped back to the dugout by Mariners vice president of high performance and medical Rob Scheidegger and assistant athletic trainer Kevin Orloski. Seattle failed to score in the inning with the game tied 4-4.
The 24-year-old Rodriguez was replaced in center field by Leody Taveras. Rodriguez is batting .254 with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs and 11 steals in 14 attempts in 62 games this season.
“In the beginning, it was very painful,” Rodriguez said, “and I couldn’t really feel my foot a whole lot or move it a whole lot — and not even like walk properly. But after we kind of started treating it, everything started reacting better right away.”