Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough took a 106-mph line drive to the face during a game against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, May 7. Yarbrough was immediately removed from the game and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The incident occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning when Athletics infielder Tony Kemp hit a comebacker straight at Yarbrough, who was unable to avoid the ball. Yarbrough fell to the ground and was attended to by Royals trainers and medical staff.
After a brief evaluation on the field, Yarbrough was helped to his feet and walked off the field under his own power, holding a towel to his face to stop the bleeding. He was then taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
The Royals later announced that Yarbrough had suffered a facial contusion and was undergoing further evaluation. The team has not provided any updates on the severity of his injury or his expected return to the lineup.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that baseball players face on the field. Line drives hit by batters can reach incredible speeds, and players in the field have very little time to react to them.
Major League Baseball has taken steps in recent years to try to improve player safety, such as requiring pitchers to wear protective headgear on the mound. However, incidents like Yarbrough’s serve as a reminder that even with these safety measures in place, players are still at risk of serious injury on the field.
As fans wait for updates on Yarbrough’s condition, they can only hope that he will make a swift and full recovery. In the meantime, the incident serves as a reminder of the risks that baseball players take every time they step onto the field.
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