The bottom of the sixth inning between the Yankees and Pirates in Pittsburgh on Friday made for a frightening moment. Pirates second baseman Ji Hwan Bae smashed a line drive right down the middle that quickly hit Yankees reliever Anthony Misiewicz in the head.
The Yankees have said he is “alert and oriented.” He will be examined by team doctors and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
The liner was traveling at 100.6 miles per hour and Misiewicz simply didn’t have enough time to get his glove up in time to stop the ball. It hit him on the left side of his head, somewhere around his ear area. He bled almost immediately and medical staff helped him onto a cart. The cart drove him off the field and, fortunately, Misiewicz apparently never lost consciousness.
Yankees reliever Zach McAllister replaced Misiewicz on the mound.
As previously mentioned, Misiewicz is undergoing a series of tests and we will know more once the Yankees share the appropriate information.
Misiewicz is a 28-year-old left-handed pitcher in his fourth MLB season. The Yankees are his third team this season – joining the Diamondbacks and Tigers – and fifth overall. This was his 130th MLB appearance.