SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rafael Betancourt, a Rockies relief pitcher, was hit in the face with a line drive during the sixth inning Thursday against the Royals. He was immediately removed from the game.
He suffered a bruise on the right side of his jaw. But Betancourt did not immediately suffer concussion symptoms, Rockies athletic trainer Keith Dugger said.
“It’s part of the game,” Betancourt said. “It’s the first time it happened to me though. I just tried to react.”
Almost exactly a year ago, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman left this same field on a stretcher after he ws hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Chapman fractured bones near his eye and nose.
Betancourt, with two outs, threw a fastball to Kansas City’s Brett Eibner that he hit right back at the mound. The ball deflected off Betancourt’s glove, hit him on the side of the face and bounced toward first base.
Betancourt stayed on his feet. But Colorado catcher Ryan Casteel ran over to the pitcher to check. Dugger and pitching coach Steve Foster followed them to the mound and Dugger examined Betancourt’s neck and head.
“It got him pretty good. So we’re being cautious with him,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He passed all the test out there, we just didn’t see any reason to leave him out there.”
Betancourt walked off the field with Dugger. He was later checked on by the Royals’ team doctor.
“I would like to have stayed in the game,” Betancourt said. “But that’s fine. I don’t want to make this a big deal.”
At 39, after undergoing Tommy John surgery to reconstruct his elbow in 2013. He played through the Rockies minor-league system late last season as part of his rehab. He’s likely on the bubble for a final spot in the Rockies bullpen.
