Washington Nationals Outfield Prospect Stretchered Off Field In Scary Incident

Spring training is a time for MLB teams to evaluate their young players and build established big leaguers up to game speed while hopefully avoiding injuries.

But one of the unfortunate side effects of young players trying to impress MLB staff and executives is that they sometimes try to make spectacular plays to demonstrate their skill and willingness to give maximum effort. One such unfortunate example happened Saturday afternoon during the Washington Nationals-Boston Red Sox game.

Nationals 2021 second round pick Daylen Lile tried to rob a home run in the bottom of the 7th inning, only to flip over the bullpen wall and land hard on his back. The Red Sox bullpen immediately started calling for help from the training and medical staff, and Lile could be seen rolling on the ground, seemingly in extreme pain.

After a substantial delay, Lile was taken off the field in a stretcher and a neck brace, never a great sign.

The two teams completed the game, with the Red Sox winning 4-2.

FT. MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 2: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a double during the third inning of a Spring Training Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals on March 2, 2024 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Nationals Give Updates On Daylen Lile After The Game

Nationals manager Davey Martinez told reporters after the game that Lile was able to move his feet and legs.

"When we left him, he was moving his feet, his legs," said Martinez according to MASN Sports. "Hopefully everything comes back negative. We’re going to pray for him, and hopefully everything’s good."

He also explained that he and the staff were immediately concerned after Lile didn't immediately pop back up and get out of the bullpen.

"You see somebody go over the wall like that, you can’t see him get up, and then everybody in the bullpen starts calling for you, you’re thinking: ‘Oh, no,’" Martinez said. "You just hope that he didn’t hit his head, his neck. All these things are going through your mind when you’re running out there."

Martinez praised the Red Sox staff for helping out with Lile. 

"I’ll tell you, the people with the Red Sox did a great job," Martinez said. "I want to thank them, too. They were awesome."

As of Saturday afternoon it's not clear what Lile's status is, but hopefully he's able to make a full recovery and get back on the field quickly.