Cleveland Indians OF Josh Naylor suffers serious leg injury after collision in right field – cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Indians right fielder Josh Naylor was removed from Sunday’s game in Minnesota after suffering a serious lower leg injury in the fourth inning. Naylor collided with second baseman Ernie Clement and then landed awkwardly while chasing a flare to right by Twins infielder Jorge Polanco.

Naylor spun in the air after colliding with Clement and landed with his body weight pinning his right leg. He rolled over several times, writhing in pain as Indians trainers and emergency personnel rushed to his aid. Naylor left the field on a medical cart after a 12-minute delay.

Warning: The video below shows graphic images of Naylor’s injury.

Clement, playing in his third big-league game at second base, was visibly upset near the Indians dugout while Naylor laid on the grass. Bradley Zimmer replaced Naylor in the lineup and Harold Ramirez moved to Naylor’s spot in right field from center on defense.

Naylor, 24, joined the Indians in August as part of the six-player return from San Diego in the Mike Clevinger trade. He endeared himself to Indians fans in the club’s brief 2020 postseason run by going 5-for-7 with four extra-base hits and three RBI against the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series.

This season, Naylor developed into one of Cleveland’s most consistent hitters, batting .254 with a .711 OPS and seven RBI in 19 games since June 1. He was hitting 11-for-30 (.367) over his last 10 games prior to Sunday.

Naylor also proved himself a clutch hitter in at-bats after the sixth inning this season. In 37 plate appearances in late and close situations Naylor batted .353 with a 1.082 OPS and three home runs.