In a recent game against the Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar experienced a painful injury that no player would want to endure.
During the fifth inning, Nootbaar fouled an 0-1 pitch into the ground, only for it to ricochet into his groin area. The impact left him crumpled on the ground in pain, requiring the assistance of a team trainer.
Lars Nootbaar just left the game with trainers after he fouled this ball off into an… unideal spot pic.twitter.com/KybNR7KDvn
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 17, 2023
Despite the discomfort, Nootbaar remained in the game for the rest of the at-bat but was unfortunately struck out. However, in the sixth inning, he was replaced by Jose Fermin.
The Cardinals later announced that Nootbaar had suffered a lower abdomen contusion and was being evaluated by medical professionals.
Nootbaar’s unfortunate incident didn’t hinder his overall performance in the game, as he finished with a 1-for-3 record. However, the Cardinals ultimately fell to the Athletics with a score of 8-0.
This loss adds to the disappointments of the season for St. Louis, who currently holds a 54-67 record and is tied for last place in the National League Central.
Despite the team’s struggles, Nootbaar has had a strong season overall, boasting an impressive .835 OPS and 3.2 wins above replacement (according to Fangraphs), placing him second on the team in both categories.
The Cardinals will now prepare for a four-game home series against the Mets starting on Thursday.
