Chicago Cubs Star Alex Bregman Receives Encouraging Update After Foul Ball Incident

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman sustained multiple facial fractures after being struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle during Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Reds, according to a report from ESPN on Monday night.

Fortunately, Bregman will not require surgery, and the Cubs remain optimistic about his potential return ahead of the postseason.

“He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK.”

The incident occurred in the fourth inning when left-handed batter Michael Busch checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds right-hander Luis Mey. The ball struck Bregman, who immediately jogged toward the Cubs’ dugout with his hand covering the left side of his face.

Bregman was escorted by a trainer down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse, with blood visible on his face. Matt Shaw replaced Bregman and drew a walk, remaining in the game to play second base while Pedro Ramírez shifted to third.

“It just happens so fast,” Busch said. “[Mey]’s throwing the ball hard and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it’s always a scary thing. We try to focus on the game, but it’s tough. Hopefully he’s OK, first and foremost.”

Before exiting the game, Bregman had gone 1 for 1 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. He is batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs after signing a $175 million, five-year free agent deal in January.

“I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK,” teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “That’s the news that I’m hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity.”

Counsell noted that he had not yet considered how a potential long-term absence for Bregman might impact his postseason roster plans.

“You know, we’ve got to get good results from the hospital,” Counsell said. “He got hit in the face, [so] you’re worried just about his general well-being first. I want to get a good report first.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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