Washington Nationals rookie catcher Kiebert Ruiz left Saturday night’s 10-7 loss to Pittsburgh after a Kyle Keller pitch hit him in the head. Manager Davey Martinez said afterward that X-rays were negative, and that Ruiz would be re-evaluated on Sunday.
It was the end of a brief but eventful night for the 23-year-old, one of the key pieces of the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner deadline deal, along with battery-mate Josiah Gray.
Ruiz was in on two pivotal plays in the game before leaving in the sixth inning, a mistake on a play at the plate and a clutch three-run double.