Major League Baseball felt the intense heatwave gripping the United States on Saturday, as soaring temperatures forced players and an umpire from their respective games. The dangerous conditions highlighted the physical toll extreme weather can take on athletes competing outdoors.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Seattle Mariners reliever Trent Thornton were among those impacted by the oppressive heat, experiencing health issues during play.
Heat Sickness on the Field
At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where the first pitch temperature hit 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), Reds star Elly De La Cruz visibly struggled in the fourth inning. The dynamic shortstop vomited in the outfield after reportedly consuming a large amount of water just prior.
Following attention from a trainer and a cleanup by the grounds crew, De La Cruz elected to remain in the game. His decision proved impactful, as he later blasted a game-tying two-run home run in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Reds manager Terry Francona observed the incident, noting De La Cruz’s significant water intake before falling ill.
Later the same day at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the heat reached a blistering 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius) at the game’s start. Seattle Mariners reliever Trent Thornton, after pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs, displayed signs of heat exhaustion in the eighth inning. Thornton was seen crouching behind the mound after issuing a walk.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson and assistant athletic trainer Kevin Orloski rushed to Thornton’s aid, helping him off the field. The 31-year-old reliever received an ice bath shortly after the incident. Wilson described the moment as “scary” but confirmed Thornton was recovering and expected to be “OK.”
Umpire and Staff Also Affected
The heat issues at Wrigley Field weren’t limited to the players. Home plate umpire Chad Whitson fell ill at the conclusion of the fifth inning, leading to a 10-minute delay as Dexter Kelley moved from second base to behind the plate. Mariners manager Dan Wilson stated Whitson was “not feeling well” and had vomited in the dugout. An MLB spokesperson later confirmed Whitson felt better by Saturday night and was cleared to work third base for Sunday’s series finale.
Additionally, a member of the Wrigley Field staff experienced a heat-related medical issue after the game finished. While requiring attention, the individual was able to walk off the field on their own.
Mitigation Efforts and Broader Context
In anticipation of even higher temperatures forecast for Sunday’s game, the Chicago Cubs planned to bring in a city bus to serve as an additional cooling station next to Wrigley Field. This complements cooling and misting stations that were already in place for Saturday’s game.
While other games across the league, including the Milwaukee Brewers’ victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, were played under excessive heat warnings, no players were noticeably ill in those instances.
These incidents in Major League Baseball games serve as a stark reminder of the impact of the significant heatwave sweeping across the eastern half of the United States. Forecasters predict this dangerous heat will continue, with potentially hundreds of daily temperature records at risk of being broken early next week.
