Athletics Rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Suffers Ruptured Testicle After Foul Ball in 100th Game

Q: How did a rookie get a base hit moments after a catastrophic internal injury?

He got the hit because he was able to keep going through the immediate shock of the injury, likely aided by adrenaline, before the full extent of the damage was confirmed. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer fouled a pitch directly into his groin, dropped in obvious pain, and was checked by a trainer. But he stayed in the at-bat and then lined a single to center field. He even returned to third base for another half-inning before being removed. Only afterward did the Athletics confirm the injury was far more serious than it initially appeared: a ruptured testicle that required emergency surgery. That kind of short-term response is not unheard of in sports medicine. Adrenaline can temporarily blunt pain and allow an athlete to function for a brief period despite a severe injury. In the moment, players also often do not know the exact nature of the damage, and the competitive instinct to finish the play can take over. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay underscored how unusual the sequence was, saying Kuroda-Grauer may be the only player to rupture a testicle, stay in the game, get a hit and play another half-inning on defense. The episode has also raised questions about protective equipment, because observers suggested he may not have been wearing a cup. He is expected to miss about two weeks.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 22

Oakland announced Tuesday that rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer sustained a ruptured testicle after fouling a pitch into his groin during Monday’s game against Arizona.
The injury came on a night that had started with a milestone: Kuroda-Grauer hit his first career home run in the second inning before the painful foul ball later in the game.
Kuroda-Grauer still finished the at-bat with a single to center, playing through the incident before the Athletics disclosed the extent of the injury a day later.
The setback landed in game 100 of a 162-game season for an Athletics club already sitting 14 games below .500.