Chris Bassitt hit in head by line drive, leaves game

Terrifying

The Oakland A’s had a scary moment early in their game on Tuesday.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, a Chicago White Sox batter hit a 100 mph line drive directly back toward the mound, and the ball drilled starting pitcher Chris Bassitt in the head.

It appeared to hit him in the right side of the head, around the ear or temple area. He stayed down on the ground for a few minutes while the trainers attended to him, and the towel they held against his head appeared to be soaking up blood. Around three minutes later, Bassitt was pulled up and took a few assisted steps to the trainer’s cart to be driven away.

Bassitt’s teammates stood and watched in horror while the trainers helped him, and the entire stadium of opposing fans fell into stunned silence. There was a subdued applause of encouragement for their fellow human as he was carted away.

Oakland broadcaster and former pitcher Dallas Braden offered the following words on Twitter:

“There’s nothing scarier as a pitcher. It’s a thought you eliminate from your mind each time you take the mound. You can’t let it creep in. Not for a minute. Should this day come you just hope you wake up. I am sick to my stomach. Please keep Bass in your thoughts tonight.”

Or to put it more succinctly:

The A’s and White Sox will play the rest of their game tonight, but it’s difficult to focus on that at this point. All thoughts are on Bassitt right now.

The team offered this initial update.