Rockies infielder Daniel Murphy was reinstated off the injured list on Wednesday morning just in time for Colorado’s game against the Nationals. His return to the field managed to go five innings without incident.
That was until the Comfort Dental Tooth Trot nearly sent Murphy right back to the injured list.
The race of oversized dental-themed mascots takes place before the sixth inning of Rockies home games. Typically, the large mascots race along the infield warning track and finish just beyond the Rockies dugout. Murphy was completely unaware to this time-honored tradition and almost paid the price in a painful way.
Oh — what a reaction.
Just as the tooth, toothbrush and toothpaste characters were approaching the finish line, Murphy was leaving the dugout to make his way to first base. The way Murphy was adjusting his hat completely blocked off his peripheral vision of the approaching stampede. He didn’t see the tooth coming at all until it broke out a sweet juke move to avoid the contact.
That was one agile tooth.
I’m guessing that Murphy wasn’t too enthused about a near-injury at the hands of a mid-inning promotional gimmick. He’ll have to keep that head on a swivel for now on.
