Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal says he was shaken after his 99 mph fastball left Cleveland Guardians player David Fry with a fractured face.
The terrifying incident happened during the AL Central showdown between the Tigers and Guardians at Cleveland’s Progressive Field on Tuesday, September 23.
“Really tough,” Skubal, 28, told reporters after the game. “I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.”
Skubal continued, “I know sometimes, with those things, they can change. So hopefully he’s all right. I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or [Wednesday] morning getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good because there’s things that are bigger than the game and the health of him is more important than a baseball game.”
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Hunter Bigge is recovering in a Florida hospital after he was struck in the face by a foul ball during his team’s 4-1 loss on Thursday, June 19, to the Baltimore Orioles. Bigge, 27, dropped to the ground but never lost consciousness and was communicating with first responders, according to […]
Fry, 29, was hit by Skubal’s pitch when he squared to bunt, but got nailed flush in the nose and mouth area. He collapsed instantly, clutching his face as medical staff and Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt rushed out. Fry was eventually helped to his feet and carted off, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd.
Vogt, 39, later visited him in the hospital.
“He is doing OK. He’s in good spirits,” Vogt said by phone on Wednesday, September 24. “He’s upright. He’s alert.”
The Guardians confirmed Fry sustained a broken nose and multiple facial fractures. He was taken first to Lutheran Medical Center before being transferred to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for more testing and overnight observation.
Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan said watching Fry go down was a gut punch for the team.
“Definitely really scary,” Kwan, 28, said after the game. “For David to even try something like that [bunt], that’s just who he is. Selfless kind of guy, and especially in a position like that, he’s a tough guy. Thankfully he had some humor when he came up, but you don’t want to see a guy that’s been with you pretty much the whole year.”
Kwan continued, “Obviously energy-wise, just who he is as a teammate, he’s meant so much to us as a team. It’s really scary, but thankfully he had some humor coming off the field, so hopefully we get some good news.”
The play clearly affected Skubal, who had been dominant through five innings.
After Fry exited, Skubal threw a wild pitch, made an error, and was later called for a balk. Cleveland took advantage, scoring three runs in the inning without hitting the ball out of the infield.
The Guardians went on to win 5–2, pulling into a tie with Detroit atop the AL Central standings. The two teams continue their crucial series Wednesday at Progressive Field.
