The Rays were counting on Nick Franklin to be their second baseman for all of Wednesday's game against the Padres at second base. He was forced out after one inning, after he was struck in the head with a bat being swung by teammate Kevin Kiermaier.
Franklin and Kiermaier were warming up in the on-deck circle before the bottom of the first inning at Tropicana Field. Kiermaier windmilled his bat using his right arm, then switched to his left arm to do the same. He didn't realize Franklin had stepped behind him to grab a bat and, on his initial downswing, he hit Franklin in the head.