Erceg Avoids Serious Injury After Foot Contusion
DETROIT — Lucas Erceg appears to have dodged a serious injury after being struck by a 109.1 mph line drive on the underside of his left foot during Friday night’s game. He left the game with a contusion, and X-rays confirmed there was no fracture.
Day-to-Day Status Following Incident
Despite the positive X-ray results, Erceg is dealing with foot stiffness and a noticeable bruise, treated with a large ice pack after the Royals’ 7-3 defeat against the Tigers at Comerica Park. His availability is currently day to day as the team assesses his condition on Saturday before making decisions on his pitching schedule.
Erceg Remains Hopeful
“We’re going to take it day by day,” Erceg commented. “I don’t think I’ll need an IL stint at this point. We’ll continue treatment and see how it goes.”
Manager’s Optimism
Manager Matt Quatraro expressed relief, stating, “We got really lucky… As [head athletic trainer Kyle Turner] described it, it’s similar to a hitter fouling a ball off his foot. We will have to see how he feels tomorrow.”
Impact of the Injury
It would be a significant loss for the Royals to be without their top reliever for an extended period, especially given that Erceg was pitching despite the team trailing by four runs simply to stay sharp. Friday’s loss marked Kansas City’s fifth in a row, and Erceg hadn’t taken the mound since their only win on this current 10-game road trip against the Guardians.
Late Game Use and Performance Struggles
The Royals knew they would likely use Erceg during the second game in Detroit, regardless of the game situation. The offense struggled again, with starter Cole Ragans allowing five runs in four-plus innings. Quatraro typically reserves Erceg for situations where the team is tied or ahead, but his need for work led to an earlier appearance in this game.
Game Summary and Future Outlook
Erceg entered the game with an impressive streak of 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, after striking out two batters, he was hit with a line drive, leading to his exit. Angel Zerpa followed and gave up two runs, with one run charged to Erceg, marking his first earned run this season. The Royals struggled offensively and left 14 runners on base, going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Manager Quatraro acknowledged the team’s challenges, saying, “Sometimes, this game will beat you up… but we need to keep fighting.”
