DETROIT – Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is in the hospital for something "more scary than a general baseball injury," manager Brad Ausmus confirmed Friday.
Martinez was taken to the hospital with an elevated heart rate and cold sweats, according to health officials.
Martinez was removed from Thursday night's game in the seventh inning after reaching on an error. Martinez appeared to run hard out of the batter's box on the ground ball to shortstop as the go-ahead run was in scoring position.
After reaching first base safety, Martinez appeared to ask to be removed from the game. He was replaced by pinch runner Dixon Machado.
"Certainly a little more scary that a general baseball injury," Ausmus said on MLB Network radio. "When you start talking about the heart, it becomes much more real-life than a sprained ankle."
Martinez spent Thursday night in the hospital, Ausmus said.
"He's got an irregular heart beat and probably will spend another night tonight there," Ausmus said. "We're going to put him on the (disabled list). We'll know more probably by tomorrow."
Ausmus said this doesn't appear to be the end of Martinez's baseball career.
Martinez has been placed on the 10-day disabled list. John Hicks was called up from Triple-A Toledo to fill his spot.
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