Detroit Tigers center fielder Derek Hill was carted off the field after suffering a left knee injury in the fifth inning Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Hill had laid down a bunt and was racing toward first base when he got tangled up with Tampa Bay Rays first base man Ji-man Choi. Hill appeared to skid, hyperextend his leg and then land hard on the turf.
“He got banged up pretty good at first base,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “They were concerned about his left knee. I think he hyper-extended it. We weren’t even going to waste time trying to walk him off the field. We’ll do the tests that we always do and check him out fully. It was an unfortunate play to say the least.”
Hill was assisted by medical staff. A cart carried him to the edge of the field at which point he was placed in a wheelchair and pushed the rest of the way.
Hill was called out on the play. Umpires ruled that he interfered with Choi’s ability to catch the ball.
Hill was replaced by Victor Reyes, who entered the game in right field. Akil Baddoo moved to center and Robbie Grossman to left.
Daz Cameron is the most likely candidate to be called up from Toledo to take Hill’s spot on the roster if he goes on the injured list.
This could mark the end of an encouraging season for Hill, 25, a former first-round draft pick who got his first extended playing time in 2021 after debuting last year. He hit .259 in 150 plate appearances with three doubles, three triples and three home runs. He had 10 walks and struck out 42 times. Hill stole six bases and was caught three times.
This story will be updated.
Detroit Tigers’ Derek Hill is wheeled off the field during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)AP
