New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez suffered one of the most painful baseball injuries we can think of on Monday night, March 25th. The player fouled a ball directly into his face, and the team reported he’d suffered a right orbital fracture, a rather rare injury where baseball players are concerned.
Typically, the helmet protects players from injuries such as this one. But Gonzalez, who was playing with the Yankees in an exhibition game in Mexico against the Diablos Rojos, was involved in a series of events that almost seems too hard to believe when recounted. He stayed in Centro Medico ABC in Mexico City overnight and was expected to undergo more tests today.
First, Gonzalez got jammed with an inside pitch. That part is more or less normal, it happens. Then the ball ricocheted off the handle of his bat, directly up into his face. That’s typically when the helmet comes into play to protect a player, but the ball knocked the helmet off his face.
Gonzalez lay on the field in very obvious pain for a while, as his teammates and opponents looked at the field in worry. He later got up and then was driven off the field in a cart. He was diagnosed with a right eye concussion and taken for further medical attention.
Oscar Gonzalez spent last season with the Cleveland Guardians and is a new addition to the New York Yankees. Last season he hit .214 with two home runs and 12 RBI in 54 games.
MLB Opening Day will be Thursday, March 28th. The New York Yankees will face the Houston Astros at 4:10 PM ET.