MLB rookie undergoes emergency surgery for ruptured testicle but still did something ‘remarkable’ beforehand

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer’s scintillating start to his MLB career has been stalled after an unfortunate injury.

Entering the July 20 matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Athletics rookie was hitting an incredible .404 through his first 15 games in the Major Leagues.

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In the fifth-inning of the game, Kuroda-Grauer entered the box and unfortunately fouled a ball into his groin.

In visible pain, the third-baseman fell to the ground clutching the area, before standing back up again.

Little did he know, he had just ruptured his testicle, making what he did next even more incredible.

Just three pitches later, Kuroda-Grauer smashed a single at 99mph to center field, his second hit of the day after slugging his first Major League home run in the second inning.

“It looks like he’s gonna come up with no balls and one strike…” commentator Chris Caray joked on the broadcast.

Kuroda-Grauer would take the field in the sixth inning, but was swiftly removed from the game and sent to Phoenix Hospital.

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer undergoes surgery for ruptured testicle

In hospital, he was diagnosed with the injury, and underwent emergency surgery.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay went to visit the rookie the day after and said he was in good spirits.

“He was joking about it. His personality is amazing. He’s such a great kid,” Kotsay said.

“Unfortunate to have to lose him with the way he was performing and just the way he was integrated into this group.

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“He’ll stay one more night in the hospital and then travel back to Sacramento.”

“I think he might be the only player in Major League history to [rupture] a testicle, get a hit, then play a half-inning of defense.

“It shows you the fight that this kid has. His desire to be on the field and just the will and want is pretty remarkable.”

The Athletics placed Kuroda-Grauer on the injured list and Kotsay added that there is no timeline for return.

In 2019, Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger suffered the same injury after fouling a ball off his groin.

The initial timetable for recovery Haniger was handed was 10-12 weeks, but complications in his rehab resulted in a chain of injuries.

Haniger tore his adductor muscle, which required a second surgery in August 2019.

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He then suffered a herniated disc, requiring a third surgery in January 2020.

All being well, Kuroda-Grauer could return for the home stretch of the 2026 MLB season.

The Las-Vegas bound Athletics currently sit fourth in the American League West division, eight games behind the Texas Rangers.

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