There was a scary moment in Wednesday's Cactus League finale for the Padres, when outfielder Jurickson Profar appeared to be in pain after a play at first base.
Profar, who went 3-for-3 with a home run, was forced to leave the Padres' 12-11 win in the fourth inning after appearing to injure his right leg attempting to slide back into first base.
Profar left the game and went back to the complex under his own power, and fortunately didn't have too much of a limp.
After the game, Profar and the Padres were encouraged the injury wasn't serious.
The Padres believed they dodged a last-minute bullet Wednesday afternoon. While Jurickson Profar exited the Cactus League finale with what the team has termed a mild ankle sprain, Padres manager Mike Shildt said afterward that his 31-year-old outfielder would indeed still board the evening plane to Seoul, South Korea. Profar, too, was in good spirits as he waited for the team bus.
“The high tops saved me,” he said with a big smile.
According to The Athletic, Profar's ankle will be re-examined after the team lands in Seoul.
The Padres landed Thursday morning and open their season on March 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Profar is one of five outfielders on the Padres' travel roster along with Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Jose Azocar, and non-roster invitee Oscar Mercado.
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