Joshua Kuroda-Grauer delivered one of the most remarkable displays of toughness seen on a baseball field this season, continuing to play after suffering an injury that ultimately required surgery to repair a ruptured testicle.
The Athletics rookie was at the plate during the fifth inning of Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he fouled a pitch directly into his groin. The impact immediately dropped him to the dirt near home plate as trainers rushed onto the field to evaluate him. It appeared to be the kind of injury that would bring an immediate end to any player’s night.
Instead, Kuroda-Grauer got back on his feet.
MLB Star Stayed in the Game
Despite the obvious pain, the Athletics’ hottest hitter stayed in the game, completed his at-bat, managed to record a single, and even remained on the field defensively. He continued playing through the top of the next inning before finally being replaced at third base in the bottom of the sixth.
The determination shown during those moments became even more astonishing once the full extent of the injury was revealed.
After the game, Kuroda-Grauer was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for a ruptured testicle. The Athletics later confirmed that the procedure was successful and said in a press release that the 2024 third-round draft pick is now “resting comfortably.”
Manager Left Searching for Comparisons
Manager Mark Kotsay struggled to find a comparison for what had unfolded.
“I think he might be the only player in history to (rupture) a testicle, stay in the game, get a hit and play another half inning of defense,” Kotsay told reporters.
The sequence became even more memorable because Kuroda-Grauer’s night included another milestone. Before leaving for the hospital, he finished 2-for-3 at the plate. He recorded his first MLB home run, turning what should have been a celebratory evening into one dominated by an extraordinary injury story.
The Athletics have since placed him on the injured list while recalling Max Muncy to take his place on the active roster.
A Breakout Season Put on Hold
His absence comes during a difficult stretch for the club. The Athletics have gone 2-8 over their last 10 games, making the rookie’s emergence one of the few consistent positives for the team.
In just 16 major league games, Kuroda-Grauer has quickly established himself as one of the Athletics’ most productive hitters. He owns a .417 batting average, has collected 25 hits in 62 plate appearances, and carries a remarkable 1.019 OPS. Those numbers have made him one of the brightest early stories on the roster despite his limited time in the majors.
For now, the focus shifts to his recovery. His willingness to continue playing through an injury severe enough to require surgery immediately became one of the most unusual moments of the MLB season, and it is unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
