Mariano Rivera Tears Achilles During Yankees Old-timers’ Day Game

Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera tore an achilles tendon while going aft a flyball astatine nan New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day crippled connected Saturday and needs surgery.

Agent Fern Cuza said nan 55-year-old closer, baseball’s profession leader successful saves, will person nan cognition wrong a week.

In his lone at-bat, Rivera singled disconnected erstwhile teammate Andy Pettitte and easy ran to first base. During an at-bat by Willie Randolph, Rivera took a measurement and fell to nan crushed successful shallow halfway section down 2nd base.

The Yankees restored nan Old-Timers’ Day crippled for nan first clip since 2019.

“It was a nosy time until we heard astir Mariano. Mariano wounded his achilles,” seven-time Cy Young Award victor Roger Clemens told WFAN broadcaster Suzyn Waldman. “I don’t cognize what was going on. We each thought it was a hamstring, but I deliberation it’s a small worse than that. I deliberation he’s astatine nan infirmary now. Unbelievable.”

Rivera was nan 2nd subordinate to get wounded successful nan arena since 2017. Eight years ago, erstwhile outfielder and existent YES Network expert Paul O’Neill strained a calf moving to first base.

Rivera tore nan anterior cruciate ligament successful his correct knee successful May 2012 while shagging alert balls successful batting believe successful Kansas City. He returned for his last play successful 2013 and vanished arsenic baseball’s profession saves leader pinch 652 and posted 42 postseason saves.

In 2019, nan 13-time All-Star became nan first subordinate unanimously inducted into nan Hall of Fame by getting each 425 votes successful balloting conducted by nan Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He helped nan Yankees triumph 5 World Series titles and 7 American League pennants.

Rivera took portion successful nan Old-Timers’ Game, played earlier nan Yankees hit nan Houston Astros 5-4, for nan 2nd time. He deed an inside-the-park homer successful 2019.

The arena commemorated nan 25th day of nan 2000 title team, nan past squad to triumph 3 consecutive World Series titles. Clemens was a first-time attendee astatine nan event, which had skipper Derek Jeter springiness a short video connection erstwhile he was introduced pursuing Rivera.

Before nan event, Rivera said he intended to speak pinch struggling reliever Devin Williams, who allowed 3 runs successful nan 10th inning Friday. He has allowed 9 runs successful his past 5 appearances and 28 earned runs this year, 2 much than 2022-24 combined.

“Can’t do thing astir it,” Rivera said Saturday morning. “Once it’s done, it’s done. Just study from it, move connected and beryllium confident. You person to beryllium assured successful yourself. If you’re not assured successful yourself, you’re playing nan incorrect sport.”