SAN DIEGO -- Padres catcher Freddy Fermin exited Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium and was subsequently being evaluated for a potential concussion, manager Craig Stammen said after his team’s 12-7 loss in Los Angeles.
Fermin, who spent 10 days on the concussion IL last month, took a couple foul balls to the mask on Thursday night -- including a hard foul ball from Freddie Freeman in the fifth inning.
"Another ding to the head again,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “He’s getting evaluated by the doctors to test for a concussion and a head contusion and all that stuff. We’ll obviously know more later tonight or tomorrow.”
During a meeting on the mound, Padres infielders Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado seemed to notice Fermin wasn’t quite himself and signaled to the dugout. Stammen emerged and was joined by a team trainer shortly thereafter. After a brief discussion, Fermin was removed from the game.
"They sensed something was off,” Stammen said. “They said in Spanish that he said he was a little dizzy. Immediately when you hear that, it’s like, ‘All right, you’ve got to get out of the game.’”
Considering the beating Fermin has already taken this season, that doesn’t bode well. It could be another blow for a Padres team that has been hit hard by injuries lately.
They placed Jason Adam on the injured list on Thursday afternoon before the game. During the game, starter Randy Vásquez fainted on his way to get an X-ray on his right ankle and was taken to a local emergency room. (Vásquez is conscious and stable, Stammen said.)
If Fermin were to miss further time, the likeliest replacement is Blake Hunt, who was promoted last month when Fermin landed on the IL. He and Rodolfo Durán would split time behind the plate.
Of course, Luis Campusano likely isn’t far from a return from his left big toe fracture. Campusano began a rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
Fermin has struggled for much of the season at the plate, batting .152 with a .520 OPS.