Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was rushed to the hospital Sunday night, taken for X-rays and CT scans after being struck directly in the face by a foul ball during the team’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. This wasn’t some minor bump; Bregman was standing several feet in front of the on-deck circle when a checked swing sent the ball careening into him, leaving blood visible on his face and sparking immediate fears across the diamond.
The Terrifying Moment on the Field
The incident happened in the fourth inning. Reds right-hander Luis Mey was on the mound, and Cubs left-handed batter Michael Busch checked his swing on a pitch, fouling it off straight into Bregman’s left cheekbone, right under his eye. You know how fast these things happen, and Busch himself put it perfectly: “It just happens so fast. [Mey]’s throwing the ball hard and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it’s always a scary thing.” No kidding. Bregman immediately jogged toward the dugout, hand covering the left side of his face, before a trainer escorted him down the steps and into the clubhouse. Blood was visible, and manager Craig Counsell’s grim update confirmed it: “He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye. 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.”
Beyond the Box Score: What This Means
Before leaving the game, Bregman was doing his job, going 1 for 1 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. This guy has been solid all year, batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs after signing that massive $175 million, five-year free agent deal back in January. Losing a player of his caliber, especially now, is a huge blow. Matt Shaw stepped in for Bregman, drawing a walk and shifting to second base, with Pedro Ramirez taking over at third. But the immediate concern isn’t about defensive shifts or season stats; it’s purely about Bregman’s health. As Pete Crow-Armstrong put it, “I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK. That’s the news that I’m hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity.”
Cubs Hold Their Breath for Postseason Hopes
The Cubs actually pulled off a 9-1 win, and they could even clinch a postseason berth with a Diamondbacks loss to the Yankees later Sunday. But all that good news is overshadowed right now. There’s no decision yet on whether Bregman will even travel back to Chicago with the team. Manager Counsell hasn’t even begun to think about how this could impact his postseason roster plans, and honestly, who can blame him? His mind, and the team’s, is fully on Alex’s well-being right now. “You know, we’ve got to get good results from the hospital,” Counsell said. “He got hit in the face, so you’re worried just about his general well-being first. I want to get a good report first.” All anyone can do now is wait for those reports from the hospital. Let’s hope for the best for Bregman.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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