Sports · Baseball · published 2026-09-02 · via Sports Illustrated

Ruiz pulled from game after head injury scare

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz left Wednesday's game against Atlanta after a foul ball struck his mask, causing him to slump over. Team trainers and manager Blake Butera evaluated him before deciding to remove him. Ruiz has a history of head injuries, including a concussion that sidelined him in 2025.

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Ruiz's exit came during a strong outing by starter Brad Lord, who had allowed just one hit with five strikeouts through three innings. The catcher had been instrumental in that performance before the fourth-inning incident. The game subsequently entered a weather delay, leaving no immediate update on Ruiz's condition.

This marks the latest in a series of head injury incidents for Ruiz dating to 2025. He was struck in the dugout on June 23 of that year, then took another foul ball off his mask in July, landing him on the concussion injured list. Setbacks during rehab, including headaches after another mask strike, ended his 2025

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This summary is AI-generated and original to Mobble; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Nationals' Keibert Ruiz Exits Game Early Against Braves Due to Apparent Head Injury.” Browse more stories.