Alex Bregman left Great American Ball Park with a badly swollen face Sunday, but the Cubs third baseman may yet have a path back for October after suffering multiple facial fractures on a foul ball.
Bregman is not expected to need surgery, and there is hope he can return for the postseason. The Cubs have not publicly confirmed the diagnosis or timetable.
The frightening play came with two outs in the fourth inning of Chicago’s 9-1 win over the Reds. Michael Busch, facing Cincinnati right-hander Luis Mey, checked his swing and sent the pitch foul into the on-deck area. The ball struck Bregman in the face.
Bregman went straight into the Cubs’ dugout and was replaced by Matt Shaw, who entered as a pinch-hitter. He was then taken to a hospital for X-rays and a CT scan.
A scary moment in the on-deck circle
Busch said the club was rattled by the sight of Bregman getting hit.
“You never want to see that on the ball field,” Busch said. “You can’t control any of that. It happened so fast. Any time it hits the head area, it’s scary. You focus on the game, but it’s tough.”
Manager Craig Counsell said immediately after the game that Bregman had a cut beneath his eye, some bleeding from his nose and significant swelling. Counsell initially believed the foul ball may have broken Bregman’s nose, though he knew the impact had landed somewhere around the face.
“It’s just an unfortunate accident,” Counsell said. “I’m hoping and praying he is all right.”
Bregman sends message from Chicago
After the game, Bregman posted a photo showing the swelling around his eye and thanked supporters for their messages. His note carried a simple promise: “I’ll be back.”
He offered another update Monday morning after returning to Chicago, a reassuring sign after an afternoon that turned abruptly from a nine-run road win into a concern that will linger around the Cubs until his recovery timeline becomes clearer.
