Tue Jun 24 00:10:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: Heatwave Hits MLB: Players Suffer Illnesses as Temperatures Soar**
**Summary:** A scorching heatwave sweeping across the United States impacted Major League Baseball this weekend, leading to multiple players and an umpire suffering from heat-related illnesses. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz vomited on the field during a game in St. Louis, while Seattle Mariners reliever Trent Thornton experienced heat exhaustion in Chicago, requiring medical attention. The extreme conditions also forced an umpire to leave a Cubs-Mariners game and prompted the Cubs to implement a cooling station for Sunday’s game as temperatures are expected to rise.
**Full Article:**
Across Major League Baseball this weekend, the intense heat became a formidable opponent, sidelining players and umpires alike. The soaring temperatures, part of a broader heatwave expected to intensify next week, took a visible toll on athletes in multiple games.
In St. Louis, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz visibly struggled during Saturday’s game against the Cardinals. The temperature at first pitch was 92 degrees Fahrenheit, and De La Cruz vomited in the outfield during the fourth inning. Despite the illness, De La Cruz remained in the game and even hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
“I actually watched him,” said Reds manager Terry Francona. “He drank a bunch of water. I mean a bunch! And then he went right out and got rid of it.”
The Seattle Mariners also faced heat-related issues during their game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, where temperatures reached 94 degrees at first pitch. Reliever Trent Thornton was treated by emergency medical technicians after experiencing heat exhaustion. Thornton pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, but was seen crouching behind the mound after giving up a walk in the eighth.
“It was a scary moment, for sure,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson. “He battled hard. But just really glad that he’s feeling a little bit better now and should be OK.”
Adding to the disruptions, home plate umpire Chad Whitson fell ill at the end of the fifth inning, causing a 10-minute delay. He had reportedly thrown up in the dugout. Whitson was later cleared to work third base for Sunday’s game. A Wrigley Field staff member also suffered from a heat-related medical issue after the game.
In response to the extreme weather, the Cubs planned to bring in a city bus as a cooling station for Sunday’s game, in addition to existing cooling and misting stations.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ game against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis was played under an excessive heat warning, but no players were noticeably ill. Forecasters are predicting that the heatwave will intensify across much of the eastern half of the US next week, with the potential for over 250 daily temperature records to be broken.
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