Pittsburgh Pirates utility infielder Phillip Evans will miss the rest of the 2020 season after suffering a concussion and fracturing his jaw in a collision with outfielder Gregory Polanco in foul territory. Evans was released from the hospital late Saturday and was said to be in good spirits despite still dealing with swelling in his face. The 27-year-old was placed on the 45-day IL and is expected to make a full recovery. Pittsburgh recalled outfielder/first baseman José Osuna to replace Evans.
Evans Update: Phillip Evans has been diagnosed with a concussion and a fractured jaw as a result of the collision during Saturday’s game. However. As a result. However. pic.twitter.com/TdLZuW2Qd0
— Pirates (@Pirates) August 9, 2020
The Injury
The injury occurred in the top of the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers. With a runner on second and no one out, Miguel Cabrera hit a fly ball into foul territory down the right-field line. Both Polanco and Evans gave chase. Polanco ended up making the catch, but not before crashing into Evans. It appeared that Evans lost consciousness for a moment as he fell to the ground face-first. He was then rolled onto his back by the Pirates training staff as he went through the proper tests. Evans was responsive and then carted off the field and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
“They were telling him to be really still, to not move, basically don’t do anything,” Pirates second baseman Kevin Newman said. “But he was responding to them. He was conscious. He could move his fingers. He could feel the things they were doing, so that was all really good stuff to see right off the bat.”
“It’s extremely scary,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “When you see the impact of that magnitude, that hard, both guys going full speed, right near the fence. It’s a scary situation. I thought our medical guys did a good job, thought the paramedics did a nice job. You have to be overly cautious in that situation. Moments like that are scary.”
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