Reds 2B India recalls Thursday’s injury scare

In the bottom of the first inning at the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India was hit by a pitch for the 32nd time in his career. At first, he didn't think anything was different about this one.

A few hours later, he was in a helicopter being airlifted to a hospital in Iowa City to be evaluated for compartment syndrome, a serious condition that could have seriously damaged his calf muscle. Fortunately, he's only working through soreness now, but it was the biggest injury scare of India's career. “The doctor said he wanted to see me again after the game,” India said. “He did all these tests, and it was really painful . ... He said you could lose your calf muscle if you don't go to the hospital.”

After India was struck, he limped down the first base line. He thought it was a calf bruise, and in between innings, went into the training room to get it taped up.

“Then it was like, this is not a calf bruise,” India said. “(Assistant athletic trainer Tomas Vera) was like, ‘Yeah that's pretty bad... Tomas wanted me to stay out. I was like, I'm going back out, this is a once in a lifetime thing.”

He went back up to the plate, but India couldn't land on his front foot because of the “lump” on his leg. He couldn't focus. He struck out and “was making a fool out of myself,” which made India finally realize he couldn't stay in the game.

He later learned that if he had played a few more innings, he could have done a lot of damage.

After the game, India met with emergency medical technicians in the clubhouse. “I couldn't believe there were so many people in there,” India said. “I was like, ‘What's going on, guys?' I thought it was just a big bruise.”

They told India he had to get to a hospital to get it checked out for compartment syndrome, and if he flew back to Cincinnati on the team plane, it could cause dangerous swelling.

But he did get to fly in a helicopter for the first time.

“We flew over the Field of Dreams,” India said of his journey to the hospital. “It was sick. It was still lit up. I was like this is actually pretty fun.”

India was at the hospital for four hours. Then, since there was still concern about what a plane ride could do to the swelling in his leg, India rode back to Cincinnati with Reds head athletic trainer Sean Mcqueeney.

India was back at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, getting treatment before the game. He had a big bandage on his left leg but joked that he could have been in the starting lineup.

“I'm lucky,” India said.