After exiting in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 9-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz passed concussion protocol
The Washington Nationals were blanked in the second and final game against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday in a 9-0 loss that featured a 90 minute rain delay, but it also featured another injury.
Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz exited the game in the fourth inning of Wednesday's loss after taking a foul tip to his face mask, leading the training staff to take the field to tend to him with Ruiz showing pain. Yet the good news was that manager Blake Butera revealed postgame that Ruiz passed concussion protocol. Butera noted that Ruiz expressed pain in his jaw and given his history with the injury, the Nationals opted on the side of caution. The Nationals then turned to Harry Ford, who joined the rest of the lineup who struggled to produce any offense after the first year catcher went 0-for-2 after posting a .196 batting average through August.
Butera noted that Ruiz is day to day coming out of Wednesday's loss with uncertainty whether the Nationals turn to Ford in his absence, though Ruiz did travel with the team for the upcoming six game West Coast road trip.
This marks the first time that Ruiz has battled concussions this season, a notable injury given his struggles through 2025. Ruiz suffered his first concussion after being hit in the head by a foul ball back in June 2025 before suffering another concussion just two weeks later after another pitch off his mask led him back to the injured list. Ruiz eventually returned in 2026 after missing the remainder of the 2025 season where he's been a steadying piece for the Nationals at catcher. Ruiz is batting .282 in 2026, his best since his brief appearance with the team after arriving via trade in 2021. Ahead of Wednesday, he also led all catchers in batting average, OBP and OPS over the last month.
The latest injury came as outfielder James Wood made his return to the lineup, marking his first game back since Aug. 3 after battling through a left oblique strain. Wood went 1-for-4 in Wednesday's loss, accounting for one of the team's two hits in the quiet outing.
The Nationals are enjoying one of their final off days of the 2026 regular season as they make the cross country trip to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three game series set to begin on Friday, Sept. 4 before facing the San Diego Padres on Sept. 7.
