What began as a standard pop-up soon escalated into a dramatic incident.
It culminated in a scene that left fans in shock.
During the top of the eighth inning on a Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, first baseman Freddie Freeman pursued a pop-up drifting towards foul territory. Just as he neared the visiting team’s dugout, Freeman lost his footing, and in a sudden twist of fate, tumbled headlong down the stairs.
Concern quickly swept across Dodger Stadium, uniting fans in collective worry for Freeman’s well-being.
Several of Freeman’s Dodgers teammates came racing over to his aid. Several more Kansas City Royals players also leapt off the bench to check on the former MVP.
For several moments, the entirety of the crowd also seemed to be holding its breath, with Freeman out of sight below the concrete overhang.
But then, he re-emerged –– somehow on his feet, and, at least initially, seemingly unscathed.
As chants of “Fredd-ie! Fredd-ie!” rang out, the 36-year-old gingerly returned to his position, then played out the rest of the inning.
Once he returned to the dugout, he proceeded to the clubhouse –– likely for further evaluation –– and was pinch-hit for in the bottom half of the frame.
But he didn’t show any obvious signs of injury in the moment.
No further information on his status was immediately available.