A truly scary scene took place Tuesday night with Chris Bassitt on the mound for the Oakland Athletics.
His A’s were taking on the Chicago White Sox and in the bottom of the second inning, a sharp liner was hit right back toward the mound.
Bassitt was unable to deflect the ball and it struck him on the face.
We will not be sharing the video here.
The pitcher immediately went to the ground and everyone on the field and in the stands was shocked.
This was the only update the team provided at the time:
Chris Bassitt is conscious and aware, and is on his way to the hospital. We will provide additional information when possible.
— AthleticsPR (@AthleticsPR) August 18, 2021
The whole situation was terrifying so luckily, a more positive update emerged Wednesday.
News is encouraging on A’s ace Chris Bassitt. After being hit in the face with a liner last night he sustained a fractured cheekbone and maxilla (upper jawbone). Surgery will be in 3-5 days after swelling subsides. All other scans are clean. Most vitally: Vision is 20-20.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 18, 2021
Bassitt still needs surgery, but it appears he escaped without any negative life-changing injuries.
That is fantastic news.
Not Great, But Still Positive
There is no true “great” outcome following such a graphic injury.
Yet knowing Bassitt’s vision is alright and the fact he is scheduled for surgery should mean he is fine to return in 2022.
His agent also released a statement on his behalf.
Thank you to everybody who has reached out on #MeisterSports family member @C_Bass419 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fLusH2vrYc
— Meister Sports (@Meister_Sports) August 18, 2021
Pitchers getting struck by batted balls is unfortunately a scary part of the game anyone who takes the mound accepts as a possible risk.
The chances of it happening are not as slim as some may think.
The hope now is that Bassitt can indeed return next year and not have any lingering negative effects from this injury.
Major Blow For Oakland
From a baseball-centric viewpoint, this injury is a huge blow to Oakland’s playoff chances.
Bassitt has been lights out all season, posting a 12-4 record and 3.22 ERA with a 9.2 K/9 mark.
He is the top man of the staff and was seen as the likely player to be called upon in a do-or-die playoff game.
Those plans have obviously now changed, leaving it up to Frankie Montas, Cole Irvin, and Sean Manaea to shoulder the load.
The A’s enter play Wednesday only 2.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West division, so landing in the ALDS remains possible.
However, losing your ace is never a good thing this late in the season and the team will have to quickly refocus to also make sure they don’t lose their grip on a Wild Card spot.
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have quickly made it a two-team battle between rivals at the top of the Wild Card standings.
This injury remains fresh for everyone in the A’s organization.
Bassitt being set for surgery is great news and from there we will all be hoping for a great recovery.
NEXT: Who Should Start In Potential Wild Card Game For Athletics?