On the verge of clinching a playoff berth, the Chicago Cubs may have suffered a devastating blow before their playoff run even begins, when star third baseman Alex Bregman was struck in the face by a line-drive foul as he stood in the on-deck circle Sunday, Sept. 20 in Cincinnati.
With left-handed hitting Michael Busch at the plate in the fourth inning and Bregman on the grass in front of the third-base-side on-deck circle 20-30 feet from the plate, Busch checked his swing on a 97-mph pitch from Cincinnati Reds reliever Luis Mey.
The ball caromed directly off the bat and into the left side of Bregman's face in the area of his eye.
Knocked back, Bregman dropped his bat and immediately
pressed his hand over his left eye, blood visible on his face. He turned toward the Cubs dugout as the trainer met him.
He was quickly ushered down the steps and into the clubhouse.
There was no immediate update from the Cubs on the nature or severity of Bregman's injury.
Bregman is in the first year of a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs, who entered the day tied for the National League's first wild-card position.
Matt Shaw pinch hit for Bregman.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cubs' Alex Bregman struck in face by line drive, exits game vs. Reds
