Toronto Blue Jays left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty had to be helped off the field in the seventh inning of their game against the Athletics on Saturday after he was hit by comebackers from back-to-back batters.
Fluharty came in the game to start the top of the seventh with the Blue Jays leading 2-1 and lefty hitter Jeff McNeil at the plate for the A’s.
McNeil worked through five Fluharty pitches before he lined a fastball right back at the mound that caught Fluharty on the right thigh. The ball bounced slowly towards third base and McNeil reached easily on an infield single.
Fluharty was checked on by Jays manager John Schneider and head trainer Jose Ministral for a moment before the 24-year-old took a few warm-up pitches and let the team know he was able to stay in the game.
The following batter, Max Muncy, lined the third pitch of his at-bat right back at Fluharty again – and this one caught Fluharty flush on the right knee, and again bounced toward third base for an infield hit.
Fluharty got up limping and had to be helped off the field after facing just two batters in his first outing of the year.
Lefty Brendon Little came on in relief of Fluharty and eventually allowed a go-ahead grand slam to Shea Langeliers that put the A’s up 6-2.
Fluharty made his MLB debut on April 1 of 2025, and impressed the staff throughout the rookie campaign to the point that he was used in 11 games in the team’s run to the World Series. He finished his rookie season with a 4.44 ERA, with 56 strikeouts over 52.2 innings pitched.