Boston Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins' return from the injured list ended almost as quickly as it began on Friday, when he exited his start against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning after injuring his right knee while making a play at first base.
With one out in the inning, Dobbins ran to cover first on a groundout by Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson. Dobbins successfully made the play on a feed from first baseman Abraham Toro to record the out before landing awkwardly and hobbling down the first base line.
Dobbins clutched his right leg after the play, prompting a visit from manager Alex Cora and the team's training staff. He managed to return to the mound and throw just one warmup pitch before exiting the game. The Red Sox later announced the reason for his Dobbins' early exit as "right knee pain."
Hunter Dobbins’ early exit after IL return should have Red Sox fans worried
Friday's start marked Dobbins' first for the Red Sox in approximately three weeks. The rookie right-hander was placed on the injured list on June 22 (retroactive to June 21) with a right elbow strain after pitching 61 innings over 11 starts in his first taste of the Majors. He made one rehab start with Double-A Portland on July 5, giving up one run over five innings and striking out eight.
Dobbins' return from the IL on Friday got off to an inauspicious start when he surrendered a leadoff walk to Yandy Díaz on four pitches in the first inning. He proceeded to give up back-to-back singles to fall into a 1-0 hole early in the game. Of the 27 pitches Dobbins threw before exiting the game, 22 of them came in the first inning.
In his debut campaign, Dobbins has a 4-1 record and a 4.13 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts) this season. For now, the Red Sox will have to hope that his early exit was merely precautionary and not indicative of a serious injury that could land him back on the IL.
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