Aroldis Chapman Nailed By a Line Drive in Face, Carted Off Field


Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was struck in the face by a line drive during yesterday’s spring training game against Kansas City.

Chapman’s 99-mph pitch came back at him so quickly that he was just completing his follow-through when he was hit and trainers from both teams rushed to the pitcher’s mound, as did Chapman’s father, who was watching in the stands.

“He never lost consciousness,” Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters. “He was able to communicate. He was able to move his hands, his feet, his legs. I’m not a doctor. I don’t want to go much further than that. It got him pretty flush just above the left eye is what it looks like.”

Chapman was carted off the field with assistant trainer Tomas Vera, who is Chapman’s translator, going with him to an Arizona hospital. Price and Royals Manager Ned Yost conferred and agreed to call off the rest of the spring game, which was in the sixth inning.

That is some scary stuff. The sound of the ball colliding with his face is downright sickening.

[Washington Post]