Manny Machado suffers knee or leg injury at first base (GIF)

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was carted off the field at Tropicana Field on Monday after suffering a left leg (likely knee) injury running out a ground ball in the seventh inning.

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Tim Beckham committed an error on the play, allowing Machado to reach base. But the Orioles youngster stepped on first awkwardly and appeared to injure his left knee or leg on the play. He went down and was carted off the field.

Even though Machado went down to the ground in the field of play, the umpires ruled he was not trying to advance to second and gave the Orioles a pinch-runner as a replacement.

Machado is only 21 and one of the finer young players in the game. Often overshadowed by Bryce Harper and Mike Trout when it comes to discussing the best young players in baseball, Machado was having a tremendous season for the O’s. In addition to playing superb defense, Machado had 51 doubles and 14 home runs this season.

This may be a devastating setback for the Orioles and one of their franchise cornerstones. We truly hope he makes a quick recovery.

GIF via @CorkGaines; Image via @worldofisaac