2 hours ago
5
Cleveland Guardians star David Fry has avoided long-term brain and head injuries after being drilled in the face by a 99mph fastball on Tuesday night.
The MLB star attempted to bunt a pitch but inadvertently diverted the ball onto his own face, leaving the stadium stunned into silence and medics rushing to his aid.
He was immediately taken to hospital for further tests, but his manager Stephen Vogt has now given worried fans a positive health update about the designated hitter.
'He's injured, he's hurting, he's in a ton of pain,' he told reporters prior to Wednesday's game against the Tigers, going on to add: 'But as far as life goes, he's gonna be OK.
'Anytime with a head injury, you worry about the long-term effects of that, but he's been cleared of any kind of brain or head-type stuff. That's really what matters.
'Broken bones heal. That doesn't mean he's not going to be in pain. But we're all really, really happy that David's OK.'
David Fry fouls a bunt off his face during the sixth inning of the Guardians' game on Tuesday
He was rushed off the field and taken to the hospital, but has avoided serious injury
It was also revealed that the Tigers pitcher who tossed the 99mph fastball - Tarik Skubal - got a lift to the hospital with Vogt to check in on his opponent.
The Tigers star later revealed that he wanted to check in on the player and apologize for the part he played in the freak accident.
'I haven't really watched (a replay),' he told reporters. 'I got to see it live, and I don't want to keep watching that.'
Fry suffered multiple minimally displaced facial and nasal fractures in the incident, it has since been revealed, but the avoidance of anything more serious comes as a huge relief.
In the incident on Tuesday night, Fry had squared to bunt against one of the game's hardest throwers in Detroit ace Skubal.
Pitcher Tarik Skubal was devastated on the field and then visited Fry in the hospital
Unfortunately for Fry, Skubal's heater ran up and in, slamming into the Guardians slugger's nose and mouth before deflecting off his bat and onto the diamond below.
The 29-year-old Texan collapsed at the plate while clutching his face in obvious pain, but the bigger reaction may have been Skubal's. The reigning American League Cy Young winner immediately covered his own face upon seeing Fry's before removing his hat and turning away in horror.
‘We just went fever pitch from eerie silence,’ one of the Guardians announcers said. ‘And unfortunately for Skubal, he had a front-row seat.’
Skubal continued to pace around the mound as Fry was tended to by Cleveland's medical staff.
