According to ESPN, Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman sustained several fractures to the left side of his face after being hit by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle during Sunday’s matchup. He is expected to avoid surgery and remains optimistic about making a comeback in time for the playoffs.
“It was simply a freak mishap. I am keeping him in my thoughts and prayers,” remarked manager Craig Counsell following the matchup, as reported by MLB.com. “Our primary concern is securing positive medical evaluations from the hospital. Because the blow was to his face, his overall health is our immediate focus. Once we receive encouraging news, we can determine our subsequent actions. I am anticipating a favorable update.”
This bizarre injury happened during the fourth inning when Michael Busch struck a check-swing foul ball in Bregman’s direction. Positioned close to home plate, Bregman had virtually no time to defend himself. On Monday morning, he posted an update on his social media accounts:
Aside from managing the pain, the primary concern is whether the inflammation will reduce quickly enough to restore clear vision in Bregman’s left eye. Should his sight remain compromised, returning to action will be impossible. There is simply no alternative to that requirement.
With just one week left in the regular season schedule, placing Bregman on the 10-day injured list would sideline him for next week’s Wild Card Series, though he could rejoin the team for the NLDS if they move forward. Chicago currently holds a five-game lead for a wild-card position and could secure their playoff ticket as soon as Tuesday, contingent on either a victory against the Marlins or a defeat for the Diamondbacks. They are no longer in contention for the NL Central title.
Entering Monday’s scheduled matchups, the Cubs are currently on track to play the Padres, even though the final seeding for the National League wild card remains unresolved.
Should Bregman be ruled out for the Wild Card round, the hot corner will likely be shared by Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramírez, which represents a noticeable step down in production. Consequently, the Cubs will need to lean even more on key players such as National League MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong, along with Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and the rest of the lineup.
The 32-year-old infielder has posted a slash line of .262/.352/.452 alongside 26 homers so far this season. Having launched 19 home runs over his previous 61 appearances, he has established himself as Chicago’s most impactful player outside of Crow-Armstrong. Bregman is currently playing in the inaugural season of his five-year, $175 million deal with the franchise.
