FORT MYERS, Fla. - The imagery was hard for Ryan Brasier to ignore.
When Justin Turner found himself laying on the ground at home plate Monday afternoon after being hit in the face with a Matt Manning fastball, Brasier's mind immediately went back to that June day in 2021.
"Immediately when somebody gets hit and they go down, first off it’s scary every time," Brasier told WEEI.com. "Sitting out in the bullpen when I saw them bringing towels out, obviously everybody knew it was pretty serious. I couldn’t help but think mine happened 40 feet from the same place."
The incident Brasier referenced was when he was hit in the side of the head with a 104 mph line-drive at JetBlue Park during a rehab assignment, taking off the top of his ear while surfacing the same kind of blood seen in the Turner beaning.
While not exactly the same sort of scenario, it was close enough to hit home.
Because of the similarities of injuries, Brasier can also offer perspective when it comes to getting back on the field and facing down flying baseballs. It's a part of the equation that the pitcher doesn't believer the hitter will have a problem with.
"I haven’t seen mine. Honestly, not many people have seen it," Brasier said. "There was a video but I’m sure it wasn’t one guys sent out. I never rewatched it. But at the same time I know people who it has happened to in the past flinch or whatever after. I feel like JT is one of those guys it won’t affect. I think he will be right back as soon a they let him.
"(The dangers of returning to the baseball diamond) for sure crosses your mind. But somebody asked me pretty quick after it happened if I would have any hesitation and from the get-go I said no. I didn’t think I would I was pretty lucky I didn’t. The first time there was a hard ground ball up the middle or soft line-drive, honestly, you think about it. But for me it was a matter where if I’m worried about that I’m not going to be worried about pitching."
Fortunately, it appears as though Turner has avoided anything more serious than the 16 stitches placed along the cheekbone area of his voice the baseball struck. And while there will be significant swelling, it appears as though Turner was even able to keep his trademark red beard.
"Obviously, it was super scary," Brasier noted. "Hopefully he will be back soon."
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