Chris Iannetta experienced most baseball players’ worst nightmare.
The Arizona Diamondbacks catcher was hit in the face with a fastball Friday during his team’s 11-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Iannetta was batting in the seventh inning when Johnny Barbato’s wayward 93-MPH fastball struck him in the mouth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGFczgnkqFQ
Iannetta remained on the ground for several minutes but eventually left the field under his own power. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, and the Diamondbacks have yet to make a statement about his condition.
Barbato said after the game he didn’t intend to hit Iannetta, according to MLB.com’s Adam Berry.
Johnny Barbato: "Just got away. Obviously wasn’t on purpose or anything. I think I felt worse than anyone in the stadium at the time." https://t.co/7ZE3g3lAYl
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) May 13, 2017
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo agrees.
#Dbacks manager Torey Lovullo says he believes simply got away from Pirates pitcher.
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) May 13, 2017
Players rarely suffer such a cruel fate in the batter’s box, but this danger often is just a slippery grip away.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
