CINCINNATI — Sweltering temperatures across the United States created challenging conditions for Major League Baseball players over the weekend, leading to health concerns during games. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Seattle Mariners reliever Trent Thornton both faced heat-related incidents while competing on Saturday.
At Busch Stadium, where the temperature soared to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, De La Cruz experienced a bout of vomiting in the fourth inning of the Reds’ 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. After being attended to by a trainer and given ample hydration, he chose to remain in the game. Reds manager Terry Francona noted the effort De La Cruz made to stay hydrated despite the discomfort.
“The kid drank a lot of water and really tried to push through it,” Francona said. De La Cruz’s perseverance paid off as he delivered a key two-run home run in the seventh inning, launching an 85 mph changeup from Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz a staggering 435 feet to deep left center.
Meanwhile, in the Windy City, the heat at Wrigley Field spiked to 94 degrees during the Mariners’ matchup with the Chicago Cubs. Thornton, who had pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, began experiencing heat exhaustion in the eighth inning. After walking a batter, he needed assistance from Mariners manager Dan Wilson and assistant athletic trainer Kevin Orloski, who helped him off the field. Thornton later received an ice bath to cool down.
Wilson expressed relief that Thornton was recovering. “It was a scary moment, for sure. He battled hard,” Wilson said, expressing gratitude that Thornton’s condition had improved soon after the incident.
Adding to the intense heat, home plate umpire Chad Whitson was also forced to leave the game after feeling ill. His exit caused a 10-minute delay as Dexter Kelley took over behind the plate. Wilson noted that Whitson had been feeling unwell in the dugout prior to leaving, an indication of the harsh conditions at the stadium.
A Cubs staff member later reported a heat-related incident after the game concluded, but fortunately, the individual was able to walk off the field independently. The team has since arranged to set up a city bus as a cooling station for the final game of the series, supplementing existing cooling and misting options.
Further north, the Milwaukee Brewers played a game against the Minnesota Twins under an excessive heat warning at Target Field. Despite the sweltering conditions, no players from either team showed signs of illness.
As much of the eastern United States braces for a week of record-breaking heat, officials warn that over 250 daily temperature records could be shattered as soon as Monday and Tuesday. Major League Baseball teams are taking precautions to ensure player safety during this intense weather, highlighting the challenges posed by extreme conditions in summer sports.