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Collision between Blue Jays' Kikuchi and Athletics' Soderstrom during obstruction play
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    Collision between Blue Jays’ Kikuchi and Athletics’ Soderstrom during obstruction play

    That Oakland sun might be getting to both teams on the diamond on Sunday.

    Following a pop-up from Davis Schneider, Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom and Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi collided in foul territory, resulting in an interference play that you certainly don’t see every day.

    Was it the bright California sun? The unorthodox setup of the dugouts at Oakland Coliseum? A blend of miscommunication and confusion? Whatever it was, it left players, fans, commentators, and everyone in between scratching their heads and hoping everyone was okay.

    It came in the top of the 10th inning with the Blue Jays up to bat. Schneider’s pop-up started to veer towards his team’s dugout and Kikuchi, hoping to get out of the way of the play, instead ran straight into Soderstrom as the first baseman was going for the ball, sending both players to the dirt.

    Kikuchi was apologetic after the game, saying he was embarrassed by the incident and forgot about the lack of a dugout railing. He added that there was no intent behind the collision.

    “After, I just wanted to create a little hole and hide in it,” he said.

    The play would ultimately result in an out for Schneider, with umpires calling it a case of obstruction due to the fielder’s right of way.

    Now usually, obstruction is defined as “an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the baserunner’s progress.”

    But in this case, seeing as it’s the other way around, it was ruled as a ‘Fielder Right of Way,’ which states that “If any member of the batting team (including the coaches) interferes with a fielder’s right of way to field a batted ball, the batter shall be declared out,” according to the MLB Rulebook.

    Another interesting hitch to this, making it such a one-of-one occurrence, is that Oakland Coliseum may be the only ballpark in the majors where you could see this happen.

    It’s the only field in MLB without fences on the dugouts, forcing players to sit back on the benches or find any place at all they can lean or sit to watch the game.

    With it being a tight contest on Sunday, heading into extras and the Blue Jays putting on their rally caps to score three runs in the 10th, most of the team was on the edge of the dugout, practically stepping onto the field or sitting on things like Gatorade coolers to take in the action.

    Kikuchi was standing on the edge, and as soon as the pop fly went up, the pitcher tried to get out of the way by running into the field but didn’t notice Soderstrom running right into his path.

    Only in Oakland. A farewell to the Coliseum with a unique play perfect for a unique ballpark.

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    In a recent game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics, a collision occurred between Blue Jays’ pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Athletics’ catcher Tyler Soderstrom during an obstruction play. The incident occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning when Soderstrom attempted to score from third base on a wild pitch.

    As Soderstrom rounded third and headed for home, Kikuchi positioned himself in front of the plate to receive the throw from his catcher. However, as Soderstrom slid into home, Kikuchi inadvertently blocked his path, causing a collision between the two players. The impact was significant, with both players falling to the ground and requiring medical attention.

    The umpires quickly ruled that Kikuchi had obstructed Soderstrom’s path to home plate, resulting in Soderstrom being awarded the run. Both players were able to walk off the field under their own power, but the collision served as a reminder of the dangers of obstruction plays in baseball.

    Obstruction plays occur when a defensive player hinders the progress of a baserunner who is attempting to advance. In this case, Kikuchi’s positioning in front of home plate prevented Soderstrom from reaching his destination safely. While obstruction plays are relatively rare in baseball, they can have serious consequences when they do occur.

    Both teams will likely review the incident and use it as a learning opportunity to prevent similar collisions in the future. Players will be reminded of the importance of giving baserunners a clear path to advance and the potential risks of obstructing their progress.

    Overall, the collision between Kikuchi and Soderstrom serves as a cautionary tale for players and coaches alike. It highlights the need for clear communication and awareness on the field to prevent dangerous situations like this from happening again.