A big game with playoff implications took a back seat to the health of a player when the Detroit Tigers visited the Cleveland Guardians on Sept. 23.
Guardians designated hitter David Fry went to the hospital after he was hit in the face by a 99-mph fastball from Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning of the game at Progressive Field. Fry squared to bunt before the ball hit him, sending him to the ground in pain. He covered his face as trainers came to his aid.
A visibly shaken Skubal immediately dropped his glove and tossed his hat on the ground, as he turned around and put his hand over his mouth.
Fry, 29, managed to stand up and walk on his own, while his face was covered with a towel as he was escorted to a cart to take him off the field. George Valera replaced Fry and struck out to finish the at-bat.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters after the game that Fry “stayed conscious the whole time,” while noting he was undergoing testing.
“We’re all thinking about David and his family right now. Obviously, we’re glad he is OK, but obviously it’s a really scary moment,” Vogt said.
Skubal, who is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, said he contacted Fry and is hoping for the best.
“It’s really tough,” he said after game, according to MLB.com. “I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. 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. I know sometimes with those things, they can change, so hopefully he’s all right.
“But I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or tomorrow 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.”
Fry, who is in his third major league season, was an All-Star in 2024.
The incident occurred during a three-run inning in which the Guardians never hit the ball out of the infield. After the game resumed following Fry’s injury, Skubal threw a wild pitch and balked a runner to third base, who would later score on a groundout.
The Guardians would go on to win the game, 5-2.
The moment came in the heat of a vital game in the American League playoff race. The Guardians, who were once 15 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central, have stormed back to tie Detroit for first place with less than a week remaining in the regular season. The teams will play again Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.