Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was struck in the face with a line drive off the bat of Royals catcher Salvador Perez on Wednesday night in a Cactus League game and needed to be carted off the field.
[mlbvideo id=”31593793″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]
Medical personnel ran immediately out to the mound when Chapman went down and the hard-throwing left-hander’s father soon followed. A stretcher came out and Chapman was rolled onto it with a backboard.
Here are reports from beat writers on-site, including C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, and Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star …
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
Walt Jocketty out to the field, talking to Reds trainers. Price and Ned Yost are talking, umps going out. Not sure if they’ll continue #Reds
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
The game has been stopped. It’s over. #reds
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) March 20, 2014
Sal Perez appears to be weeping as he leaves the field.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) March 20, 2014
umpire Chris Guccione said it was just out of respect for Chapman and safety of players that Price, Yost decided not to continue #Reds
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
************************
A promising update here from Rosecrans, who’s reporting from the Reds’ clubhouse …
Chapman suffers laceration, contusion above left eye. never lost consciousness #Reds
— ctrent (@ctrent) March 20, 2014
************************
Possibly the final update of the night, from the Reds’ official Twitter account …
Aroldis Chapman is currently at the hospital. We will update you as we have more information. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.
— Reds (@Reds) March 20, 2014
************************
Tests were run right away and an early diagnosis is in. Via the Reds’ official Twitter feed …
Chapman was taken to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City, where tests indicated fractures above his left eye and nose.
— Reds (@Reds) March 20, 2014
