Cubs' Alex Bregman Suffers Facial Fractures After Foul Ball to Face
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman suffered facial fractures when a foul ball struck him in the face Sunday in Cincinnati.
Bregman was waiting for his turn to hit in the on-deck circle, the area near the dugout where the next batter warms up. Teammate Michael Busch checked his swing on a 1-2 pitch from Reds right-hander Luis Mey and fouled it off. The ball bounced up and hit Bregman.
He never got to take that at-bat. Bregman jogged toward the Chicago dugout with his hand over the left side of his face. A trainer walked him down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse.
The scene was frightening. Manager Craig Counsell said Bregman was hit on the left cheekbone under the eye, was bleeding from his nose, and had swelling and a cut under the eye, according to The Guardian.
The Cubs sent him to a hospital in the Cincinnati area for X-rays and CT scans, detailed imaging tests doctors use to check for breaks. Chicago went on to beat Cincinnati 9-1 in that fourth-inning sequence and the rest of the game in Cincinnati, ESPN reported.
By Monday, Sept. 21, Bregman was back in Chicago. Sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan he had multiple facial fractures but, at age 32, will not need surgery and hopes to return for the postseason.
Bregman addressed fans himself on Instagram. He posted a photo showing a swollen eye and blood on his cheek with the message, "Thanks for all the messages yall. I'll be back."
The injury cuts into a big first season in Chicago. Bregman is batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs, or runs driven in. He signed a $175 million, five-year deal as a free agent in January, meaning Chicago added him from the open market without a trade.
For fans, this means waiting. Facial fractures can heal without an operation, but timing matters with October near. The Cubs have not given a return date.
