The Royals found themselves in a tough spot early with the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning. With a 2-2 count, Arraez took a hit-by-pitch from Singer, walking in a run to put the opposing team up 1-0. Things quickly got weird. Josh Donaldson stepped up next and hit a sharp comebacker that nailed Singer in the lower leg. The ball bounced straight up, and remarkably, Singer caught it off the ricochet. The Royals then doubled off the runner from second, who hadn’t realized the ball never hit the ground.
The play unfolded fast and confused just about everyone at first. Replay confirmed the ball came straight off Singer’s foot, never touching the dirt. That made Donaldson out on the catch, and since the runner on second didn’t tag up, the Royals got the double play. Interestingly, the runners on first and third both reacted well and avoided being thrown out. The Royals bench was signaling as soon as the ball bounced, trying to help their fielders read the play in real time.
Singer had to come out after the hit. Trainers checked on him, and while broadcast commentary veered into a tangent on the trainer’s haircut, the update was that it’s just a bruise. Singer walked off under his own power. If he doesn’t miss a start, it’ll go down as a scary moment but with no damage to his ERA, thanks to that heads-up double play.