Keibert Ruiz’s night ended early on Wednesday after a foul ball off his mask appeared to leave the Nationals catcher dealing with a head injury against the Braves.
The injury scare came in the top of the fourth inning, after Ruiz had played a key part in helping Brad Lord roll through the first three frames. Lord was dealing in the start, striking out five and allowing just one hit through three innings, his best stretch since coming off the injured list on Aug.
- Washington was trying to close out a two-game sweep of Atlanta in the final meeting between the clubs during the 2026 season.
Then the game shifted. Ruiz slumped over immediately after the foul ball hit his mask, and that quickly brought Washington’s trainer and manager Blake Butera onto the field. After the checks were completed, the Nationals pulled him from the game.
The moment carried extra weight because Ruiz has already dealt with multiple head injuries recently. On June 23 last year, he was struck in the head by a foul ball while standing in the dugout. Then on July 5, another foul ball off his mask led Washington to place him on the concussion IL.
His recovery path got even messier after that. During a rehab assignment, Ruiz dealt with headaches and other setbacks after taking yet another foul ball off his mask, and the Nationals eventually shut him down. He did not appear in another MLB game for Washington in 2025.
Ruiz was open about how frustrating all of it had become, even raising the possibility of changing positions because of the fear that came with the injuries. In the end, he stayed behind the plate, and that decision has paid off this season. He has put together a breakout year with an OPS+ 11 points above the league average of 100, along with career-best marks in batting average at .283 and slugging percentage at .451.
At the time of writing, the game had entered a weather delay, and there was no update on Ruiz’s status.
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