Dodgers’ Austin Barnes Leaves Game with Apparent Injury
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes was removed from Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Austin Barnes left the game in Top 6th inning with left groin "soreness" #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 26, 2019
At first glance, it looked like the injury was related to his groin, and he was clearly favoring it on his path back to the dugout upon the conclusion of the inning. Dave Vassegh later confirmed this.
Russell Martin replaced him in the game.
The trainers went out to check on Barnes at second base, where he injured himself rounding the bag. It was a questionable decision to allow Barnes to continue considering the score of the game at the time was 10 to 3, in favor of the Boys in Blue.
Vassegh later provided the update from Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts isn’t certain about the severity of Austin Barnes’ left groin injury that forced him out of today’s game. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 26, 2019
More to come for sure on this after a long flight from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles.
On the season, Austin Barnes has held a 96 wRC+ this season and has amassed 0.7 WAR in 39 games.
Impact
Should Barnes be out long-term, it would not come as a surprise to see the red-hot Will Smith up with the big club. However, this injury does not appear to be serious. Waiting on results of tests or the like will be a better indicator of the severity of his injury.
I don’t know why, but the Dodgers “decision-makers” will bring up Rocky Gale.