Cleveland Guardians utiity man Gabriel Arias suffered what appeared to be a devastating left ankle injury on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was carted off the field after rolling on the ground in demonstrable pain, which is an ominous sign for his status moving forward. It's a brutal development for the team and a player who was finally getting a chance to prove himself as an everyday contributor.
#Guardains SS Gabriel Arias appears to have seriously injured his left ankle while trying to slide and stop a Masyn Winn single. Trainers are bringing out the cart to assist with getting Arias off the field. His weight was on his left foot as he was sliding and the ankle buckled. pic.twitter.com/CkcUfVxLn8
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) June 29, 2025
Arias was trying to make a sliding play to prevent a single from St. Louis' Masyn Winn at shortstop in the third inning. His left got caught awkwardly underneath his body weight, leading to an unfortunate accident. The next thing you know, he needed assistance exiting the contest due to what's being deemed a left ankle sprain, according to MLB.com's Tim Stebbins.
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Gabriel Arias gruesome ankle injury comes at a brutal time
It took a little longer than the Guardians expected or hoped, but Arias has been proving why he was once one of their top prospects. His versatility and strong defense have been vital to Cleveland, with him being tied for third on the team in WAR (1.2). Alas, the 25-year-old's moment is derailed abruptly.
Cleveland's willingness to move Arias around the diamond is a vote of confidence that has enabled him to be a daily fixture in their lineup. He's flashed the leather at multiple positions and shown modest power at the plate. His presumed absence will be felt, regardless of the duration.
Stebbins notes that X-rays came back negative, meaning there were no breaks or tears, which is an encouraging sign. Nonetheless, depending on the severity of the sprain, Arias might still be out for an extended time. Grade 1 can sideline him for up to two weeks, while a Grade 3 diagnosis could take months to heal and even require surgery.
Once the No. 3-ranked player in Cleveland's farm system, Arias' potential and positive impact have been on display this season. He was slashing .232/.294/.370 with six home runs and 31 RBIs while posting a subpar .664 OPS entering the game against St. Louis. His +3 Outs Above Average (OAA) highlight why the Guardians trust him in several spots on the field.