Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was taken off the field in a cart after suffering a twisted right knee while catching fly balls during batting practice before Thursday’s game between the Yankees and Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Rivera, who regularly catches balls during batting practice as a way to keep in shape, fell to the warning track. His face was contorted in obvious pain, and he was rubbing his right knee with his right hand.

The 42-year-old closer was attended to by Royals team trainers and then by Yankees team trainer Steve Donohue, who accompanied him on the cart that took him off the field.

Rivera will be taken to Kansas University Med-West Hospital for an MRI during the game.

Near home plate, teammate Alex Rodriguez could be seen reacting to the scene in the outfield, saying, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.”

Rivera was smiling as he was driven off the field, and even appeared to flash a shoulder shrug to his teammates on the field. But an eyewitness in the tunnel outside the Yankees’ clubhouse said Rivera could not walk under his own power and was helped into the room with his arms over the shoulders of manager Joe Girardi and an assistant trainer.

Rivera, baseball’s career saves leader with 608 in his 18-year career, has hinted this will be his last season. Rivera is 1-1 with five saves and a 2.16 ERA in nine appearances this season.

WRITTEN BY Wallace Matthews | ESPNNewYork.com & FULL STORY HERE