MLB Pitcher’s First College Football Outing Ends in Nasty Injury; Limps off in Crutches

Not everyone gets to enjoy the bragging rights like a two-sport player. Specifically, a rookie college football player who also happens to be an MLB player with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But sometimes in life, the unexpected hits. And for Sam Horn, this could be a scar on the face of his resume. On his very first snap of the season, the nightmare scenario every rookie dreads played out. 

Sam Horn didn’t even get a full drive to show off that 4-star pedigree. Subbed in during Missouri’s second series against Central Arkansas, the plan was supposed to be simple. Let Beau Pribula run the first half, ease the MLB star in later. Instead, he checked in early, took a designed QB run up the gut, gained six yards and stayed down. According to an X report on August 28, “Sam Horn came in for a play for #Mizzou and took a hard hit down low. Trainers came out to look at him and he was just helped off the field.” That’s a hard SEC debut.

Sam Horn was eventually helped into the injury tent, his right leg under question, and Columbia held its breath. Because this 6-foot-4 slinger had already caught the Dodgers’ eyes in July’s MLB Draft despite logging just 15 college innings after Tommy John surgery. Even as we worry about what’s going on now with this talented star, we’re at a loss for clarity. As Mizzou Radio posted, “Chris Gervino reports from the Mizzou sideline there’s no official update yet on the status of Sam Horn, who left after an apparent leg injury in the first quarter.”  

Meanwhile, Beau Pribula kept the offense afloat, firing a 49-yard strike to Marquis Johnson and setting up Blake Craig for a booming 49-yard field goal. Missouri built a 9-0 lead, but the story on every fan’s feed wasn’t the score. It was Sam Horn. As he was helped off the field, the focus naturally turned to Missouri’s QB room and the live battle that was about to define the season.

Missouri’s QB room takes a hit

Before the mishap, HC Eli Drinkwitz was optimistic about his QB room. “I think both quarterbacks have done an excellent job of doing the things that we’ve asked them to do, and there wasn’t enough separation that I felt like there was a clear-cut starter,” he told the media. He added that the next-best evaluation is in a live football game to see how guys respond to preparation, a crowd, and being tackled. 

The Dodgers have been watching closely throughout Missouri’s fall camp. Sam Horn, signed to a baseball contract with nearly a $500,000 bonus, now faces uncertainty. “We’re pleasantly hoping he does [play],” Dodgers VP Billy Gasparino said. “We think there’s a whole window of opportunity to get him much better, and quickly.” But here’s the latest update on the injured star. As Mizzou football writer Zach Sweet wrote on X, “Update: #Mizzou QB Sam Horn was spotted in a full leg cast in the tunnel. He was hit low on a 6-yard rush in the first half, went to the tent, then limped to the locker room. He did not return to the sideline before halftime.” That’s not the best news. 

For Sam Horn, there’s at least one silver lining. As a redshirt junior, he retains eligibility for next football season. And on the field, Missouri kept rolling, leading 26-0 at halftime, proof that while one star’s night ended early, the team’s story keeps moving.