Jhoan Duran had to be carted off the field after what appeared to be an ugly injury.
During the ninth inning of the Phillies’ 6-2 win over the Nationals on Friday, Duran, 27, got struck in the right ankle with a 94 mph liner hit by third baseman Paul DeJong, leaving the closer in immense pain.
Medical personnel rushed out to the field following the blow, where Duran appeared to struggle putting any weight on his right leg.
Unable to walk off on his own volition, Duran ultimately left the field on the Nationals’ bullpen cart.
Following the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson gave some details behind Duran’s injury, and the team later added that X-rays were negative and that further evaluation would follow on Saturday.
“It hit him off the outer side of his right ankle,” Thomson told reporters. “He ran like a shot to get the ball, and then once he got there, I think the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in.”
Thomson added that Duran told him that his ankle was “feeling better” before he was carted off the field.
“Before the cart came out — it took a long time — he actually said ‘I feel better, I think I can walk,’ but we have all of the stairs so we just wanted to use the cart.”
Since being dealt to the Phillies from the Twins on July 30, Duran has yet to give up an earned run in five appearances, allowing just two hits while earning four saves through four-plus innings pitched.
In return, the Twins acquired prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel from Philadelphia.
On the entire season, Duran holds a 1.86 ERA with 20 saves through 53 appearances.
