On Monday, July 20, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer was experiencing one of the biggest moments of his young Major League career. During the matchup between the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, the young infielder hit the first home run of his MLB career and helped his team secure a 5-2 victory. However, what seemed like a perfect night quickly turned into a completely different situation after an injury during the game forced him to undergo emergency surgery.
The hit that changed a special night for the rookie
In the fifth inning, the game took an unexpected turn. Facing pitcher Mitch Bratt, Kuroda-Grauer hit the ball, but it ricocheted directly into his testicles.
Athletics rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer undergoes surgery after freak on-field injury
The impact was so severe that the player fell to the ground as the team’s medical staff rushed onto the field to assist him. For several minutes, the scene raised concern among teammates and fans watching the game.
How was he able to keep playing after the injury?
What happened next became one of the most surprising moments of the night. Despite the pain and after being evaluated by doctors, Kuroda-Grauer decided to remain in the game and even managed to record a single. However, shortly afterward, he was forced to leave the matchup.
The injury was more serious than it first appeared
Later, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, where medical tests confirmed that he had suffered a testicular rupture, an injury that required immediate attention.
The rookie underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage. According to team reports, the procedure was successful, and the player was resting as he began his recovery process.