MILWAUKEE -- Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson escaped with no broken bones and is day to day with a bruised A/C joint in his right shoulder after slamming into the fence while making a spectacular catch in Tuesday night's 6-5 Dodgers win over the Brewers.
Running full speed, Pederson caught the long drive by Chris Carter for the first out in the eighth inning and crashed into the wall. Jonathan Lucroy was able to tag up from second base and score on the play, as Pederson crumpled to the ground then flipped the ball to left fielder Howie Kendrick, whose throw into the infield was too late to get Lucroy.
"I think we dodged a bullet," said manager Dave Roberts. "There's no fracture, just a bruised A/C joint. He's going to be day to day. He's sore, but no DL situation or anything like that. Right now, that's where we're at and the training staff is confident that's all it is. Now it's [pain] tolerance, and his mobility is minimal. But we're kind of relieved."
Pederson said he bruised the same (non-throwing) A/C joint (where the collarbone and scapula meet) diving for a ball in Triple-A two years ago and returned in time for the Triple-A All-Star Game.
"Sounds like day to day so I'll get on some anti-inflammatories and knock it out and be back in no time," said Pederson. "Big relief. Can't do anything about a broken bone. Just see how fast my body can recover. Injuries happen, part of the game. I was just trying to catch it and make a play."
Pederson spent several minutes on the warning track while being attended to by Roberts and a team trainer before coming off the field with his right arm held close against his body.
"You see a really nice play, but he hit the wall kind of hard and I was thinking the worst, dislocation or something, and he was scared and rightfully so," said Roberts. "But to know the X-rays came up negative is great."
"I thought Pederson made a heck of a play," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "He went full speed and made a great play. He doesn't catch that ball, we have nobody out, a man on third base and we're looking pretty good. More than it being a homer; if he runs into the wall and doesn't make a play, it's a triple. More than anything, that was the play of the game, without a doubt."
Yasiel Puig, who didn't start, was inserted into right field and Trayce Thompson moved over to center from right to replace Pederson.
Pederson covered 100.4 feet with a 96.6 percent route efficiency to make his catch, according to Statcast™. He topped out at 18.6 mph before crashing into the wall.