Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman sustained multiple facial fractures after being struck by a foul ball on Sunday. The incident occurred while Bregman was standing in the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle during the game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Bregman will not require surgery, and the Cubs are optimistic about his potential return for the playoffs. "He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye," Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated. "I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK."
The injury happened in the fourth inning when Michael Busch, batting left-handed, checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds pitcher Luis Mey. The ball hit Bregman, who immediately moved toward the Cubs' dugout with his hand covering the left side of his face. He was then escorted by a trainer into the clubhouse, with visible blood on his face.
Matt Shaw replaced Bregman in the game and drew a walk. Shaw remained in the game, shifting to second base while Pedro Ramírez moved to third.
Busch commented on the speed of the play, saying, "It just happens so fast. [Mey]'s throwing the ball hard and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it's always a scary thing. We try to focus on the game, but it's tough. Hopefully he's OK, first and foremost."
Before leaving the game, Bregman had gone 1 for 1 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. He is currently batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs. Bregman signed a five-year, $175 million free agent deal in January.
Teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed concern, stating, "I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK. That's the news that I'm hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity."
Counsell indicated that he had not yet considered the impact of a potential long-term absence on postseason roster plans, prioritizing Bregman's immediate well-being. "You know, we've got to get good results from the hospital," Counsell said. "He got hit in the face, [so] you're worried just about his general well-being first. I want to get a good report first."