Cincinnati — Foul Ball Strikes Cubs' Bregman in Face, Sent for Tests

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball on Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio, and taken to a hospital for tests, according to ESPN.

How did the injury occur?

In the fourth inning of the Cubs' game against the Cincinnati Reds, left-handed batter Michael Busch checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds right-hander Luis Mey. The ball struck Bregman, who was standing in the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle, ESPN reported. Bregman immediately jogged toward the Cubs' dugout with a hand covering the left side of his face and was escorted down the dugout steps by an athletic trainer.

What did the Cubs' manager say?

Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the location and severity of the injury after the game.

"He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye," Counsell said. "I don't know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There's some swelling. It's a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he's OK."

Counsell said he did not have further details at the time of his postgame comments, according to ESPN.

What tests is Bregman undergoing?

Bregman was taken to a hospital for X-rays and CT scans, ESPN reported. As of the report, the Cubs had not decided whether Bregman would travel with the team back to Chicago, Illinois, following the game or remain in Cincinnati pending the results.

How did the game end?

The Cubs defeated the Reds 9-1 on Sunday despite the injury scare involving Bregman, according to ESPN. No further details on the final score's context or Bregman's playing time before the incident were included in the available reporting.

What happens next?

The Cubs have not issued an updated timeline for Bregman's return or a diagnosis beyond Counsell's description of cheekbone swelling and minor nasal bleeding. Further updates on Bregman's condition, including results of the imaging tests, were not yet available as of the original report.

HTT News will update this report as additional information becomes available from the Cubs organization or Major League Baseball.

When was the incident first reported?

ESPN's account, credited to The Associated Press and additional ESPN staff, was published Sunday at 3:21 p.m. ET and included a video segment titled "Alex Bregman shaken up after being struck by foul ball." The report did not go beyond Counsell's postgame remarks and the confirmation that Bregman was sent for imaging, leaving the extent of the injury undetermined at the time of publication.

Who else was involved in the sequence?

ESPN identified Cubs infielder Michael Busch as the batter whose checked-swing foul ball struck Bregman and Reds right-hander Luis Mey as the pitcher on the mound at the time. The report did not indicate that Busch or Mey were affected by the incident, and Mey remained in the game for Cincinnati afterward, according to ESPN's coverage of the play.