The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants game featured a scary moment involving Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar. In the fifth inning, the Giants' Tommy La Stella lofted a fly ball to shallow left field, with Profar and Padres teammate C.J. Abrams in pursuit. Abrams made the catch, but his left knee collided with Profar's jaw, snapping his head back violently.
Immediately, MLB fans were concerned for Profar's well-being. However, as things played out, they quickly became frustrated with the Padres for their handling of the situation:
How did this medical staff witness that truly horrific collision, then allow Profar to attempt walking off the field TWICE without literally any assistance? Not even an arm around his shoulder, the guy just collapses. This could be a spinal injury. Someone should be fired. https://t.co/Ozzpg7EKMM
— Michael Bradburn (@MWBII) July 8, 2022
Jurickson Profar indeed got up under his own power and began to walk off the field. However, upon reaching the infield dirt, he collapsed. As this MLB writer points out, it's pretty shocking that the team let him even attempt to do so, with a serious spine injury a possibility.
That wasn't the only thing that drew the ire of Padres and MLB fans:
There's no reason for that scene to ever, ever play out again. I hope Profar is okay, and I hope this leads to some basic protocols being implemented. https://t.co/tdHZhxiobQ
— Ryan Thibodaux (@NotMrTibbs) July 8, 2022
CAN WE GET A CART FOR PROFAR?!!?
— Laura Britt (@Laura_Britt_) July 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/BenKaspick/status/1545248202504343553?s=20&t=0dYbdY63MhsgnuGzVkEY6Q
Article Continues BelowIt took the Padres a long time to get a cart out on the field for Profar. Too long. The cart should have been there the moment the collision occurred as a precaution.
Instead, the Padres put their outfielder at risk by wasting too much time while he was potentially seriously injured. And these MLB fans and writers were furious about it.
Of course, the main concern is Jurickson Profar's well-being. But that's exactly why these fans were so mad at the Padres.
Eventually, Profar was carted off the field. He raised his fist and thanked the fans at Petco Park who gave him an ovation:
Jurickson Profar was carted off the field after a scary collision with CJ Abrams.
The Padres' outfielder attempted to walk off under his own power but collapsed to the ground before being placed on a stretcher 🙏 pic.twitter.com/D0F4ozl8ck
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 8, 2022
It was a scary situation made even scarier by the way the Padres handled it.