Aroldis Chapman struck in face by line drive, suffers fractures above left eye and nose
Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is conscious and talking to medical personnel after being struck in the face by a Salvador Perez line drive during Wednesday night's Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals.
The early word from the Cincinnati Enquirer's C. Trent Rosecrans is Chapman never lost consciousness on the field and was to have suffered a laceration and a contusion above his left eye. The Reds later reported x-rays taken at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center revealed fractures above his eye and nose. He'll undergo further testing overnight.
The scary incident happened in the sixth inning as the hard-throwing lefty was attempting to get in preparation against Kansas City's major league hitters. Athletic trainers from both teams immediately tended to Chapman as the stunned crowd in Surprise, Arizona watched on in complete silence.
According to Mark L. Sheldon of MLB.com, Chapman's father was among those who ran on the field before Chapman was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field.
The game was not televised on Wednesday, but there is video of the swing that led to Chapman's injury.
That's a very uncomfortable crack followed an immediate smack. Here's how those in attendance described the scene that followed.
Place is dead quiet — you can hear the sirens of the ambulance #Reds #Chapman
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
Sal Perez appears to be weeping as he leaves the field.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) March 20, 2014
Former pitcher and #Mets scout Roy Smith, who was sitting behind home plate when #Reds’ Chapman got hit: “As bad as I’ve seen.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2014
More Smith on Chapman: “Usually guys turn their head a little bit. This was like getting punched right in the face. It was straight on.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2014
After Chapman was taken from the field, Reds manager Bryan Price and general manager Walt Jocketty met with Royals manager Ned Yost and the umpiring crew to decide on the fate of the game. The decision was quickly made to halt play.
The game will not be continued. #Reds #Royals after Chapman injury
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
An easy and obvious decision given how the players were feeling in those scary moments following the incident.
umpire Chris Guccione said it was just out of respect for Chapman and safety of players that Price, Yost decided not to continue #Reds
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
Bruce: 'the scariest thing I've ever seen' #reds #chapman
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
#Reds Jay Bruce: 'as hard as he throws and as hard as that ball was hit off the bat -- I hope for the best.' #Chapman
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
#Reds Jay Bruce: 'There's not words to explain how everyone's feeling right now. It's terrible. It really is.' #Chapman
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
As Jay Bruce notes, Chapman is among the hardest throwers in the game. The harder it's thrown, the faster it comes back, which undoubtedly creates a scary scenario every time Chapman or another pitcher like him is on the field.
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