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Report: Orioles considered boycotting Tuesday's game over Blue Jays' new turf

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The Baltimore Orioles reportedly contacted Major League Baseball over the turf conditions at Rogers Centre after infielder Jimmy Paredes was hit in the face by a grounder during batting practice Tuesday.

Paredes' injury even prompted the Orioles to consider boycotting their series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun, due to concerns over the new playing surface. Paredes, who took a bad hop off the side of his face while playing third base, was not seriously injured.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter later noted the slow-playing effect of the new turf, but provided no indication his team was considering skipping Tuesday's game. The Blue Jays won the opener 13-6 before completing the three-game sweep Thursday.

"Just because something’s different, it doesn't mean it’s bad," Showalter said Tuesday. "We’ll see."

Encina adds that the Orioles believe the new turf is a major problem, saying it's spongy, too slow, and produces untrue hops.

Friday's report comes a week after Jon Morosi of FOX Sports said the league is monitoring the surface due to concerns over irregular bounces during the Blue Jays' opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays

The Blue Jays, who made the change after years of playing on a much harder turf, are expected to transition to natural grass for the start of the 2018 season.

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