Saturday’s scorching temperatures didn’t just make fans sweat; it catapulted two MLB players into the spotlight with real-time health scares that left stadiums holding their breath.
Cincinnati Reds’ rising star Elly De La Cruz and Seattle Mariners’ reliever Trent Thornton found themselves in a battle against the heat, as thermometers climbed into the 90s in cities across the league.
In a gritty display of endurance, De La Cruz, just 23 and full of potential, found himself hunched over and vomiting during the fourth inning of the Reds’ clash with the Cardinals in St. Louis. As temperatures at Busch Stadium hit 92 degrees, the heatwave took no prisoners. Yet, defying the odds, De La Cruz made a comeback, smashing a two-run homer in the seventh inning that left fans and teammates in awe.
Reds manager Terry Francona, witnessing the grueling episode firsthand, shared insights into De La Cruz’s resolve: “I actually watched him,” Francona recounted. “He drank a bunch of water. I mean a bunch… and then he went right out and got rid of it.”
But St. Louis wasn’t alone in feeling the blaze. Earlier in the day, under the sweltering Chicago sun, Mariners pitcher Trent Thornton experienced his own battle against the elements. With initial temperatures at Wrigley Field soaring to 94 degrees, Thornton showed telltale signs of heat exhaustion, needing assistance to leave the mound.
“It was a scary moment for sure,” reflected Mariners manager Dan Wilson postgame. “He battled hard. Just really glad he’s feeling a little bit better now and should be OK.”
Both De La Cruz and Thornton avoided hospital trips, but their experiences underscore a growing concern as record temperatures grip the nation. In Minneapolis, an “excessive heat warning” wasn’t just a footnote—it’s the new reality, as the Brewers faced the Twins.
With no new precautions announced by the league yet, players are bracing for more of the same. As forecasts predict New York City potentially reaching 100 degrees by Tuesday when the Mets host the Braves, the heat index is proving to be a formidable opponent in its own right, demanding peak physical endurance from every player. As conditions intensify, the message is clear: The summer heatwave is not only testing the limits of players but also prompting a reevaluation of game-time strategies under such extreme weather conditions.
