Aroldis Chapman Suffers Fractures After Taking Line Drive to Face

Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman suffered fractures to bones around his nose and left eye after a line drive caught him in the face during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

Chapman was carted off the field but did not lose consciousness following the hit from Kansas City’s Salvador Perez. The game was cancelled following the incident.

The 26-year-old phenom, who has been an all-star in each of the last two seasons, was kept overnight in a Sun City, Ariz. hospital for observation and testing, according to the Reds’ Twitter account.

Reds manager Bryan Price will hold a team meeting at 12 p.m. EST to update players on Chapman’s condition. Chapman’s injury comes less than two months after Major League Baseball approved caps that pitchers can wear to provide additional protection from batted balls. The optional new caps do not provide facial protection.