NEWSLETTER
If you missed yesterday’s game, sure, you missed a wild one, but you were also spared the terror of seeing Kris Bryant take a 96 mph fastball off of the front of his helmet and his forehead.
If you still want to see the play, you can watch it here. Sicko.
The good news is that, despite being in obvious discomfort and a state of unsteadiness coming off the field, Bryant did not show signs of a concussion yesterday. Joe Maddon told the Tribune that Bryant was “apparently fine” after the game, before amending that Bryant was “as good as can be expected.” Bryant did have a cut above his left eye from the impact of the pitch on his sunglasses. In that moment, though, Maddon said he walked right up to Bryant, got him steady, and then told him he was taking him out (Cubs.com). There was no messing around. I appreciate that.
Bryant will still be traveling with the team to Cleveland, which is a good sign that he’s tentatively expected to play in the two-game set against the Indians, which starts tomorrow.
Today’s off-day is well-timed for Bryant to get a day off and avoid returning too early. Head injuries can be pernicious that way, when you feel totally OK, and then you start going again – or God forbid, take another one to the head – and some symptoms pop up. We’ll see if Bryant is good to go tomorrow after another day of evaluations today.
I wouldn’t declare this totally over, but the signs look as good as they can right now after something that scary. I shudder to think if that pitch were just two inches lower.
