This was the nightmare scenario.
Supporters of the World Baseball Classic touted that teammates on Major League Baseball teams could face off in the tournament while representing their countries.
The downside is that one of those players could get hurt during the competition. And, well, no one could have foreseen what happened Saturday in Jalisco, Mexico.
Royals catcher Drew Butera tried to score the winning run for Team Italy in the bottom of the ninth inning against Team Venezuela. Unfortunately, Butera ran into the left knee of Venezuela catcher Salvador Perez, his teammate on the Royals.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said that Perez was being taken to a hospital, and that he didn't expect to know the severity of the injury until Sunday at the earliest.
"He'll be examined and they'll go through the proper tests and imaging," Moore said.
Venezuela won 11-10 in 10 innings.
