Outfielder Tyler Naquin leaves Cincinnati Reds game after colliding with Jose Barrero

ST. LOUIS – Attempting to catch a fly ball into center field to potentially end the sixth inning with a one-run lead Saturday, Cincinnati Reds center fielder Tyler Naquin and shortstop Jose Barrero collided. 

The ball dropped for a game-tying RBI double, but all attention turned to the two players as they lay on the ground. Three trainers and manager David Bell ran onto the field to check on Naquin and Barrero. 

"It’s one those things that you just hold your breath, really," right fielder Nick Castellanos said. "That’s all you do. I’m not going to lie. As soon as I saw them collide, I didn’t even know where the ball went. I was going to go to Naquin either way. It’s scary."

"Very scary, but thankfully they’re going to be OK," Bell said. 

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Naquin was running forward and slid feet-first to try to make the catch. Barrero took a circular route as he looked to make an over-the-shoulder grab. After the ball dropped, Barrero's left knee went into Naquin's chest as they both ran at full speed. 

"That was a bad hit out there," said pitcher Luis Castillo, according to team interpreter Jorge Merlos. "I was just praying that none of them got any bad injuries, and fortunate enough, they didn’t get any bad injuries. After that, it was just moving on and moving forward."

Naquin walked off the field alongside head trainer Steve Baumann and Bell, replaced in center field by Shogo Akiyama. Bell held Naquin's glove when they walked toward the dugout. Naquin walked through the dugout and went straight down the stairs toward the trainer's room. 

The Reds announced Naquin left the game with bruised ribs. Barrero remained in the game against the St. Louis Cardinals. 

"No concussion concerns for either guy," Bell said. "We saw that Jose Barrero stayed in the game. He’ll get examined. He might have a pretty good bruise on his quad area, but Naq, he’s very fortunate. We’re all very thankful that he came out of that and he’s OK. Just the bruised ribs, we’ll keep a close eye on him, but it looks like everything is going to be OK."