Reds closer Aroldis Chapman left Wednesday night's game against the Royals on a stretcher after getting hit in the head by a line drive. He left Surprise Stadium in an ambulance, and the game between Cincinnati and Kansas City was called after the incident, in the sixth inning.
Aroldis Chapman carted off after line drive to head
The game between the Reds and Royals was called in the sixth inning after the incident. Chapman never lost consciousness but suffered fractures above his left eye and nose. He was hospitalized overnight.
Chapman suffered fractures above his left eye and nose, the Reds announced Wednesday night, and the pitcher was held overnight at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, where he will be further examined.
Chapman walked four of the first five batters he faced in the sixth inning before Salvador Perez lined a ball directly off his head, that caromed to third baseman Todd Frazier. Chapman laid on the ground for several minutes before getting carted off the field.
The scene on field for Chapman #reds pic.twitter.com/DWYImxvEmR
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) March 20, 2014
Place is dead quiet — you can hear the sirens of the ambulance #Reds #Chapman
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
As Chapman lay on the field, his father even ran out on the field, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters after the game that Chapman suffered a laceration and a contusion above his left eye. Price added, “‘He never lost consciousness. He was able to communicate, he was able to move his hands, his feet, his legs,” per Rosecrans.
Chapman, 26, has pitched in six Cactus League games this season, with 13 strikeouts in 10⅔ innings. He had only walked one batter before Wednesday night. The left-handed flamethrower led all major league relievers with 112 strikeouts in 2013 and has 324 strikeouts in just 198⅔ in his four major league seasons.
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