The Red Sox outfielder admitted to experiencing headaches in the clubhouse as a result of crashing to the ground on the play, and he insinuated that he could have suffered whiplash.
Sweeney underwent tests to determine whether he suffered a head injury. In the meantime, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine plans to closely monitor Sweeney's status moving forward.
"I guess they have a test now that [Sweeney] says he couldn't pass before he dove for the ball, but I guess they ask you to do things and recite the months of the year backwards," Valentine said. "And that's a tough one.
"Things like that, and so he didn't do that well last night, he said he felt much better today, his neck, he's in the training room with a kind of whiplash situation on his neck, which I don't think would prevent him from playing some. But I'm cautious with the concussion situation."
If Sweeney doesn't pass the medical team's concussion exams, the Red Sox could elect to place him on Major League Baseball's new seven-day disabled list –– a DL service that is strictly suited for head injuries. But Valentine isn't ready to make a decision just yet.
"I'm not sure we would do that with Ryan [on Sunday] if that was the move," Valentine said. "I guess I could've played [Nick] Punto at short and Mike [Aviles] in the outfield, which might have to happen if things go around, but that looks like our lineup."
Marlon Byrd is slated to replace Sweeney in center field on Sunday. The Red Sox also promoted Che-Hsuan Lin from Pawtucket to add more depth to the outfield.
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