Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez left Thursday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Angels after getting hit in the head by an errant throw.
Rodriguez walked with one out in the bottom of the first inning before Dominic Canzone hit a grounder to Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel. He tried to throw to second base to start an inning-ending double play, but the ball hit Rodriguez in the back of the batting helmet just as he started his slide. The ball ricocheted into center field and Rodriguez pumped his fist and yelled toward his teammates in the dugout before bending over with his hands on his knees.
Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson and manager Dan Wilson came onto the field and chatted with Rodriguez and third-base coach Carlos Cardoza for a couple of minutes before Rodriguez stayed in the game.
Rodriguez returned to center field in the top of the second but was seen talking with Torgerson again while sitting on the bench in the bottom of the inning and left with the trainer and headed for the clubhouse.
Victor Robles replaced Rodriguez in center when the Mariners took the field in the third.
