The latest incident of a batter being struck in the head by a high-velocity pitch ended with a deep exhale and a potentially catastrophic injury seemingly averted.
Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras absorbed a 98-mph offering from Cardinals reliever Luis Garcia in the head on Friday, briefly going down in a heap before he promptly sprang up and looked to take first base.
Thankfully, Contreras was apparently unharmed on the scary play, and played the balance of the game after checking in with manager David Ross and team trainers.
Garcia, a 34-year-old journeyman signed by the Cardinals earlier on Friday, immediately put his hands on his head when Contreras went down, and an audible gasp could be heard from the Wrigley Field crowd. The ball bounced far off Contreras' helmet, which also went flying off his head from the force of the pitch.
But he seemed fine in the moments after, even indicating to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina that he wasn't upset with the errant pitch. Contreras, a two-time All-Star, was then retired at second base when the next batter hit into a fielder's choice. He went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk, and caught all nine innings in the Cubs' 10-5 win.
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