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“I don’t feel quite right”: Mets player chooses to sit out, despite passing concussion protocol
Source: Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports
It seems like every other week I hear a new story of a sports league or team flagrantly ignoring the risks of concussions to get players back into the game. So, it was a relief this week when I saw the news of a team actually being more cautious than the rules dictate.
Devin Mesoraco, catcher for the New York Mets, was hit in the head by an errant pitch followed by a backswing of a bat within seconds.
As you would expect, he was quickly removed from the game and evaluated using MLB’s concussion protocol. He was cleared to play. But, to the surprise of many, Mesoraco never returned to the field and currently doesn’t know when he plans to play again.
Instead, he plans to be examined further by a doctor later in the week and the Mets say they will be monitoring him more before deciding when he will play again.
By all accounts, Mesoraco appears to be healthy and without serious concussion symptoms. He could easily return to the field in the next game without much scrutiny. Instead, he wants to be 100% sure he is ready to play.
“Sometimes it’s hard to tell,” Mesoraco said. “You take a couple of hard hits and you’re shaken up and it’s just kind of like, ‘I don’t feel quite right.’ [But] I think we’re all good.”
When it is so common for teams to put glory ahead of player safety, it is worth recognizing when a player chooses to prioritize his long-term health and is supported by his team.
