As New York Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was being taken off the field in an ambulance on Monday evening, he had one pressing question. “Right before he was driven away, he called me over and asked, ‘Hey, did I score?'” his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge recounted to reporters post-game. “[It] really shows you the kind of person he is,” Judge, 33, shared, as reported by ESPN.

“In the midst of all that pain, the only thing on his mind was, ‘Did I score?'” The alarming incident occurred in the top of the 9th inning during the Yankees’ 11-5 triumph over the Seattle Mariners when Judge hit a pop fly to right field. Cabrera tagged up from third base, sprinting home and leaping to his right at the last moment to dodge Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, landing awkwardly on his left ankle in an attempt to stretch out and touch home plate.

The 26-year-old remained on the ground, grimacing and pounding his fists into the dirt in distress as his teammates anxiously watched the medical staff attend to his leg. “I think everyone realizes it was a pretty severe situation,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented after the game. “So, just keeping our guy in our thoughts tonight and hoping for a positive outcome. We trust he’s receiving good care as he goes through the night here.” A few minutes after the close call, Cabrera was lifted off the field and transported away in an ambulance from T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

That’s when Cabrera gestured for Judge and inquired if he had managed to score before the injury occurred. He had, Judge confirmed, and the Yankees secured an 11-5 victory. “He cares about everyone in this clubhouse,” Judge remarked later. “He takes pride in being a Yankee. He wears his jersey with honor. This is difficult, particularly for a guy who’s worked hard his entire life and finally earned the chance to be our everyday player, and has excelled at it.”

Cabrera joined the Yankees in 2022 and has alternated between the team’s minor league system and its MLB roster, often stepping in at third base. This season, however, the Venezuelan native has become a cherished member of the Yankees lineup, with Boone telling MLB.com earlier this season that Cabrera’s constant enthusiasm has been a crucial factor in the decision to frequently include him in the starting lineup.

Following Monday’s injury, Boone once more praised Cabrera for his determination and noted that his teammates recognize the same qualities. “[Trent Grisham] mentioned afterward: ‘Cabby does it right every day,’” Boone told reporters, according to MLB.com. “Every single day. The way he prepares for his role, the kind of teammate he is, the joy he brings into this clubhouse every day. He is an exemplar in so many ways for anyone to emulate in their life.”