Man, you just hate to see it. Alex Bregman, the Cubs’ third baseman, was forced out of Sunday’s 9-1 trouncing of the Cincinnati Reds way too early. Why? He took a foul ball *right to the face* while he was just standing there in the on-deck circle. Seriously. In the fourth inning, Michael Busch was batting lefty against Reds’ right-hander Luis Mey, and boom. The ball found Bregman.
A Brutal Hit and a Scary Hospital Trip
The scene was gnarly. ESPN reported he immediately jogged toward the dugout, hand clapped over his left eye. An athletic trainer escorted him down the dugout steps, and you could see blood on his face. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed the cut under his left eye, the nosebleed, and how “pretty swollen” everything looked. They didn’t waste any time, rushing him to the hospital for more testing. That’s always a gut-wrenching moment. He even shared a photo of the aftermath later, and let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart. Good news is he was back in Chicago Monday morning to provide an update, which is a massive relief for everyone.
Before the Scare: Bregman Was Balling Out
Before that terrifying moment, Bregman was absolutely on fire, doing what he does best for the Cubs. He straight up opened the scoring with a clutch RBI single in the very first inning. Then, in the third, he drew a walk and hustled his way home to score on Pedro Ramirez’s huge two-run single. He was a force, man, totally locked in. Losing a guy like that mid-game, especially when you’ve shelled out a five-year, $175 million deal for him back in January, is a huge blow. This three-time All-Star is second on the team with 26 bombs and 89 RBI, right behind the insane Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Despite the shock of losing Bregman, the rest of the Cubs squad absolutely went off. Matt Shaw pinch-hit for Bregman and went 0-for-2, but it barely mattered. Pete Crow-Armstrong continued his absolute march toward the NL MVP award, blasting a two-run home run that really spearheaded their dominant 9-1 victory. And starter David Peterson was just dealing, pitching six strong innings. He gave up only three hits, one earned run, and fanned seven batters. The team definitely rallied after the scare, showing some serious grit.
What’s Next For Bregman and the Cubs
So, now what? The biggest question is obviously Bregman’s recovery timeline. We’re all just hoping for the best for him. What a wild day for the Cubs, going from an absolute scare like that to potentially clinching a playoff berth on Sunday night. Yeah, you heard that right, they had a chance to lock it down if the Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their game against the New York Yankees. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions. This team is right there, and they need their big bats healthy. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Bregman’s status, hoping he’s back out there crushing dingers sooner rather than later.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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