By Field Level Media
Sep 21 (Field Level Media) - Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman left Sunday's game in Cincinnati after he was hit in the face by a foul ball while standing in front of the on-deck circle.
Bregman was taken to a hospital for X-rays and a CT scan and the team was hopeful he would be able to travel back to Chicago on Sunday night.
"He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye," Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after Chicago's 9-1 victory. "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."
Bregman later posted a photo of himself on Instagram. His eye was swollen and there was blood on his cheek.
"Thanks for all the messages yall. I'll be back," Bregman said.
In the top of the fourth inning, Reds reliever Luis Mey jammed the Cubs' Michael Busch with an inside fastball. Busch checked his swing, but the ball hit his bat and sent a liner toward the backstop that hit Bregman.
Bregman covered his eye immediately and jogged to the dugout, where the trainer applied a towel to slow the flow of blood. Bregman was hustled down the stairs and into the clubhouse for more treatment.
Busch had a bad feeling as he looked over at Bregman.
"It just happens so fast," Busch said. "'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."
Bregman is batting .262 with 26 homers and 89 RBIs in 153 games this season, his first with Chicago after signing a five-year, $175 million deal as a free agent.
But baseball was taking a backseat on Sunday. The Cubs are off Monday before beginning a three-game home series against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
"I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK," leading MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong told reporters. "That's the news that I'm hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity."
Matt Shaw pinch hit for Bregman and stayed in the game at second base while Pedro Ramirez shifted to third.
Bregman, who hit an RBI single and walked in his two plate appearances Sunday, has been one of the National League's hottest hitters over the last two months.
He entered August with 11 homers, a .248 average and a .720 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Entering Sunday's game, Bregman had hit 15 homers and drove in 41 runs over the last 45 games while batting .291 with a .998 OPS.
(--Field Level Media)
