Frightening moment MLB star Keibert Ruiz is rushed to hospital after being struck in head by foul ball

Washington Nationals star Keibert Ruiz was hit in the head by a lasered foul ball off the bat of teammate Josh Bell on Monday night, forcing him to leave the game and go to the hospital. 

Ruiz was starting as the Nationals' catcher against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, helping not allow a run through three innings. 

Then came Bell's fourth-inning at-bat against Stephen Kolek, who tossed a 91-mile-per-hour cutter into the bottom half of the strike zone. Bell only got a piece, sending the ball into his own dugout. 

The Nationals' commentators knew immediately the pitch struck someone in the Washington dugout, with Ruiz appearing holding his head, just above his right eye and heading to the locker room in pain.  

Ruiz exited the game to go to the hospital for a CT scan, with Nationals manager Dave Martinez not giving an immediate update on his catcher's condition.

'The ball hit him pretty solid on the side of the head,' Martinez said. 'We all ducked and when he went down, we kind of got scared a little bit. He had a nice lump on the side of his head. A little concerned right now. Hopefully, he comes out of it OK.' 

Washington has yet to officially confirm Ruiz's status in the hours since Martinez's last media availability. 

Per TalkNats, the team is expecting to be without Ruiz for at least a week after the unfortunate incident. 

This is the second scary incident of its kind in an MLB dugout this month, with Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge taking line drive from the bat of Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman last week. 

Bell ended up hitting a sacrifice fly during the at-bat where Ruiz was hit, helping extend Washington's lead. 

The Nationals hung on for the 10-6 victory with Riley Adams taking Ruiz's place behind the plate. 

Washington is not having a campaign to remember, sitting 14.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.